Five Steps You Can Take To Prevent Heart Disease

Heart disease claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans every year and is the number one cause of death for both women and men in the United States. Although the statistics for this silent killer are very alarming, many cases of heart disease can be prevented if unhealthy lifestyles and habits are replaced with healthy lifestyles and habits before the disease has a chance to develop. Whether you have a family history of heart disease or not, you can protect yourself from this fatal disease if you follow five steps for heart disease prevention:
 Don't use tobacco or smoke
 Try to exercise for at least thirty minutes per day
 Consume a diet of heart-healthy foods
 Maintain a healthy body weight
 Receive regular health screenings
 Don't Use Tobacco or Smoke
 One of the most significant risk factors for heart disease is using tobacco or smoking. If you truly want to decrease your chances of developing heart disease, smoking and using tobacco are two habits that you must discard. Tobacco contains harmful chemicals that can cause damage to your blood vessels and your heart and can lead to atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries). This condition in turn can lead to heart disease and heart attacks.
 The nicotine that is found in cigarette smoke narrows your blood vessels and increases your blood pressure and heart rate. This puts significant stress on the heart and puts you at greater risk for developing heart disease. If you currently smoke or use tobacco and are disheartened by this news, there is good news as well. Within one year of quitting your unhealthy tobacco and smoking habits, your heart disease risk will drop significantly, so it is never too late to change your habits for the better.
 Try to Exercise for at Least Thirty Minutes per Day
 It can be extremely difficult to fit in thirty minutes of exercise every day, especially if you are trying to juggle your time between family, work, school, and any other responsibilities that you have. However, regular physical activity can significantly reduce your risk of developing heart disease, so you should make time for it.
 Consume a Diet of Heart-Healthy Foods
 If you want to reduce your chances of developing heart disease, it is very important that you learn how to eat heart-healthy foods and avoid foods that may be harmful to your heart. You should try to limit your consumption of fat, salt, and cholesterol and eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, grains, and beans.
 Maintain a Healthy Weight
 Excess weight puts a tremendous amount of strain on the heart and arteries and is a major risk factor for the development of many different health conditions, including heart disease. If you get plenty of exercise and eat a heart-healthy diet, you should have an easier time maintain a healthy body weight.
 Receive Regular Health Screenings
 If you regularly receive screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, you will be able to detect and manage the first warning signs of heart disease development. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to take the steps necessary to prevent heart disease from developing.
 If more people take the steps above for preventing heart disease, then this amount of lives that this silent killer claims each year will drop significantly.
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Lawrence Reaves writes for Cardiac Vascular & Thoracic Surgery Associates, surgeons who specialize in cardiac, vascular, and thoracic surgeries. If you would like more information on these docotrs visit <a href="http://www.cvtsa.com/ForPatients/C-410.html">http://www.cvtsa.com/ForPatients/C-410.html</a>