Simple Tips to Improve Your Heart Health

 Get more exercise and focus on healthy eating. That’s the message cardiologists are promoting to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke during American Heart Month. This is especially important among high-risk groups.

Doctors continue to see increased sedentary behavior, unhealthy eating habits, and weight gain among patients—putting them at higher risk for heart conditions, including some that are potentially serious.

It is so important for all, but especially the high-risk groups, to watch their diet and exercise more for heart disease prevention. There are simple ways to get moving, not just going to the gym, but simply walking or doing housework to avoid being sedentary.

Nearly half of adults in the United States—more than 121 million people—have some type of cardiovascular disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States; nearly 650,000 die from it every year and, heart disease is preventable 80 percent of the time.

Certain minority groups, including Blacks and Latinos/Latinas, are also at higher risk due to genetic predisposition, diet, lifestyle factors, and socioeconomic factors. However, illness in any population can be prevented by taking simple steps towards a healthier lifestyle.

Tips for Lowering Your Risk of Heart Disease

• Know your family history
• Manage your blood pressure
• Control your cholesterol
• Maintain a healthy diet, eating nutrient-rich food and eliminating sweets
• Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men
• Quit using tobacco or other inhaled substances, including both smoking and electronic cigarettes or vapes
• Watch your weight and exercise regularly

Learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke, including chest discomfort; shortness of breath; pain in your arms, back, neck, or jaw; breaking out in a cold sweat; and lightheadedness