Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States and different factors can increase your risk of heart disease. While there are some you can’t control, like family history or underlying health issues, there are many things you can do to reduce the risks of getting heart disease. Here are just a few:
- Eat a healthy diet: Eat plenty of grains, vegetables, and wholesome foods. Try to limit foods with high saturated fats, sodium, or sugar, which can increase cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides; leading to a higher risk of heart disease.
- Keep your cholesterol and triglycerides under control: As we mentioned, cholesterol and triglycerides are high-risk factors in heart disease. High levels of cholesterol can clog your arteries and raise your risk of coronary artery disease. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood and can cause hardening of the arteries which can increase the risk of a stroke or heart disease.
- Control your blood pressure: High Blood pressure is a major risk in heart disease. Adults need to get their blood pressure checked and make sure to keep it within recommended levels.
- Keep a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese increases your risk of heart disease. Obesity increases your risk of hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, all of which are linked to heart disease.
- Stay active: Try to get regular exercise. Exercise improves your blood circulation and strengthens your heart. It is also great for lowering cholesterol and keeping a healthy weight.
You can do your part to prevent heart disease with lifestyle changes such as eating healthy, exercising, losing weight, reducing alcohol, and quitting smoking.
If you are concerned about your cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, or any other factor linked to heart disease, visit one of Med First’s clinics for a checkup and a blood test.