Prevent Heart Disease and Live to a Ripe Old Age

Initiative # One: Be More Boring!

We’re sorry, but smoking and drinking are proven to increase the risk of heart disease! It’s just a fact! Annually, over 100,000 deaths in the US are directly attributable to heart failure; yes, brought on by cigars and cigarettes. Smoking can more than double the odds of dying from a heart attack. Simply cutting back is a good start, but quitting altogether can eventually lower those odds back to normal levels. Drinking, on the other hand, is another story. Alcohol, in moderation, can be good for you; whether it’s red wine or beer, one glass of either can help prevent heart diseases. However, you must be careful, because too much liquor on a regular basis can actually cause a heart attack.

Initiative # Two: Be Less Boring!

Exercise! One of the most efficient ways to prevent heart disease is to get regular exercise! Please note that regular does not have to mean strenuous. Someone who already has heart problems should be sure to inquire as to the type of exercise that is right for him/her, because hard workouts are not for everyone. There are many fun activities that are good for your heart. Bowling, swimming, or just a swift walk around the block all will do good things for your heart. Even some of the everyday things we do, from walking the dog to getting the mail, can count. A fact you should know: Obesity and Heart disease are linked. If you are overweight, you could be at risk for heart disease. So get away from the computer desk and step toward the diving board! People may look down on the overweight, but if you're five hundred pounds and you start hitting the pool every day, you'll have the most famous cannonball dive in existence.      Splash!

Initiative # Three: Speaking of Weight Problems

High cholesterol is your enemy! So Reduce it! Find out from your doctor (and only him), if you are overweight. Then ask him what weight range you should be in to determine if your weight is the problem, or if there are other factors involved. If you are overweight, work with your doctor on how to get that weight off sensibly. This could mean some of you will have to stop those eight course meals, but there are also people out there who are at risk because they are too small.

Initiative # Four: Got Headaches?

Headaches can be a sure sign of high blood pressure. And yes, high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease. A common drug could be your best friend here. Low doses of aspirin every day can actually work to reduce the risk of heart disease by making it harder for the blood to form clots. Although this can’t cure your high blood pressure, your doctor will have all sorts of helpfuladvice to help you control it. Medication may be necessary to help maintain your blood pressure, but you can get a really good head start by following the advice above.

Heart Health Related eBooks