Heart Disease Prevention
Easy Steps For Heart Disease Prevention
According to the statistics, heart disease is the number
one killer of both men and women in the United States. Now,
everyone fears the term of ‘heart disease’, and
many people tune out when they hear the words "heart
disease prevention."
In fact, heart disease prevention will require a commitment
on your part, it is more logical to practice a healthy lifestyle
than complete deprivation. Heart disease prevention does not
need to end all the fun of your life. Now, let’s look
at the easy steps that you can follow to prevent heart disease.
#1: Find Out Your Risk Factors
First of all, you should realize all your risk factors that
might increase your risk of heart disease. The risk factors
include age, ethnicity (African-Americans are more at risk
that Caucasians), one or more close relatives with diagnosed
heart disease, unhealthy lifestyle such as drinking heavily
and smoking, health conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol,
as well as body weight. Always consult your doctor if you
could not identify your own risk factors.
#2: Know Your Numbers
In order to understand the risks, you need to know your cholesterol
level. And if you're diabetic, what was your latest A-1-C?
What is your usual blood pressure level? How much of body
fat do you have? These are all the questions that you should
know the answer to them. These numbers are your guideposts
to cardiac health. They should be on the tip of your tongue,
just like your social security number or your birth date.
#3: Reasonable Lifestyle Modifications
Now, it is time for lifestyle modification. You can start
with one area of your life you would like to change. It could
be the nicotine addiction or the extra 10 pounds on you. Maybe
it's all you can do every day to remember to take your medicine.
Any small changes will help you greatly, so, don't despair.
You didn't develop all your risk factors in a week, so, you
can’t get rid of them in a few days. You can take your
time and reward yourself for small changes. Even a few points
off your blood pressure or a few pounds off your waist can
help relieve the burden on your heart.
You should never be shy to ask your doctor for advice and
assistance. Doctors are the best persons to help you put together
a diet plan you can live with, prescribe medication to help
manage your health conditions, and encourage you in your efforts
to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
So, why not make some life changes now for the better for
heart disease prevention?
| 
