Here are a few tips to help you prevent heart disease:
Quit Smoking
Smoking alters the structure and function of your blood vessels, increases the risk of atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries), and affects the overall efficiency of the heart.
Smoking not only increases the risk of heart disease, it also affects almost every other organ in your body. Find out How Bad is Smoking for your Health.
Limit Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and can also raise the triglyceride levels in the blood. Excessive drinking can lead to heart diseases and stroke.
The American Heart Association recommends that the consumption of alcohol may be limited to one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
Maintain Healthy BP Levels
High blood pressure (hypertension) increases the stress on your cardiovascular system. It is important to maintain normal blood pressure levels in order to prevent heart disease.If you have high blood pressure, here are 7 Ways to Combat High BP.
Stay Active
Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight are both vital to a health blood pressure and, subsequently, the prevention of heart disease.
Remember to also maintain a healthy diet with a balanced calorie intake to complement exercising.
Manage Stress
Stress affects everyone but how you cope with it can make a difference and accordingly affect your heart health. Remember that overeating, drinking, smoking are all unhealthy ways in which some people seek relief from stress.
However, it is important to find healthy ways to cope with stress. Follow these 5 Tips to Stay Stress-Free.
References:
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/smoking-and-your-heart
- http://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/alcohol-and-heart-health
- https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_adults/en/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease-prevention/art-20046502
