Ways to stop Heart Disease

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While there are genetic reasons for getting heart disease, there are just as many environmental reasons for getting the disease. Everyone has some kind of risk factors for the disease and some can be changed. Those that cannot be changed include your gender, age and family history for heart disease. Other risk factors can be modified, including hypertension, smoking history, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity and obesity.

There are always medications to try, such as those who have diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These medications are believed to lower the risk for heart disease. Having healthy life style habits, on the other hand, do a better job of reducing your risks for heart disease.

You absolutely need to stop smoking, whether it be taking nicotine replacement substances to handle cravings, use hypnosis or go cold turkey. It takes a lot of motivation and willpower to quit smoking but it does reduce your risk of having a heart attack by 50-70 percent.

You need to do some form of physical activity, whether it be walking or some other activity every single day. This is one of the easiest and most fun things you can do to improve your chances of not dying from a heart attack. This can reduce your risk regardless of the other risk factors you may have. Low impact aerobic activity helps you reduce your weight, lowers blood pressure and improves your blood lipid status. It can also prevent or treat diabetes. Besides, it is generally free if you stick to walking.

Your diet could always be better. You can lower your cholesterol by eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Cut out the sugar, processed foods and fatty foods from your diet. Eating a healthy diet can control your blood pressure and cholesterol level. Decrease the amount of saturated fats from your diet so your lipid panel looks better. Eating healthy, as you can see, reduces the risk of many different cardiac risk factors.

These are just a few healthy changes you can make that will greatly lower your risk of heart disease. Even mild changes in weight, diet and exercise can make a big difference in whether or not you get heart disease. If you make major changes, such as eating a vegetarian diet and reducing your stress level, you can greatly impact your risk of heart disease so you can live a long and healthy life. Some changes have been known to regress the cholesterol plaques that cause heart disease. Your personal program doesn’t have to be so drastic, as long as it is something you can stick to.