February is National Heart Month and matters of the heart is one of my favorite topics. The American Heart Association and people like me spend oodles of time encouraging people to take responsibility for their health by controlling their risk factors. After all if you don’t make time for your health you will make time for illness, I guarantee it! Here are some basic steps I think we can all work into our day.
Quit smoking- If you smoke this is the most important step you can make. Smoking doubles you chance of having a heart attack and increases the chance of dying from it by 70%; it is also the leading cause of sudden cardiac death.
Reduce total cholesterol- 1% reduction in total cholesterol = 2% – 3% risk of a heart attack.
Control / Avoid hypertension- Lifestyle changes such as reducing salt intake, alcohol and calories can make help control blood pressure.
Exercise- Benefits of exercise are endless. A vigorous exercise program reduces CAD by forcing your heart to work harder becoming more efficient, raises HDL, prevents diabetes and reduces stress.
Maintain a healthy body weight-Obesity increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as CAD, diabetes, hypertension.
Avoid/Control diabetes- Lifestyle management such as exercising and weight control improves the utilization of blood sugar and prevents the onset of diabetes and CAD.
Red wine in moderation.
Take low-dose aspirin (81mg) daily- Low dose aspirin can reduce heart attack risk by one third. Be sure to consult with your physician.