There are several steps you can take to reduce heart disease and its associated risks. They are not scientific, or even very difficult, they just require a determination to achieve the best health possible, and the ability to say no to things that you know will harm your heart. Keep reading for the basics you need to know like:
1. Regular check ups with your doctor. Sounds like a no brainer, but you would be surprised at how many people just refuse to see their doctor, even when they know something is wrong. Or, alternatively they just can’t afford to see a doctor. In that case you need to take steps to either find a way to cover the fees, apply for assistance, find a local health fair, or take a visit to your local ER.
2. Get a blood test. You can test for a general marker that reveals arterial inflammation, which is an indication of heart disease.
3. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. This is crucial as regular exercise works out the heart muscle and maintaining an ideal weight will not only reduce heart disease, but will also cut your risk of diabetes and other weight associated diseases.
4. Have your doctor check your lipids. If necessary, take meds to get your cholesterol levels under control and at a safe level.
5. Eat a healthy diet rich in nutrients, low in saturated and trans fats. This can be tough in our current day of quick and easy, but this is where the determination to have better health comes into play. A healthy diet can be found.
6. Take a DHA supplement, or fish oil. The benefits of fish oil on overall health are amazing, but particularly on cardiovascular health, many studies have shown how important they are to have in our diet.
7. Finally, quit smoking and ask your doc about adding baby aspirin to your daily regime. After a year of quitting smoking you reduce heart disease risk by 50%. Careful with the baby aspirin though, talk to your doctor as there have been some studies that show aspirin is much more effective in men than in women to reduce heart disease.
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