Heart Healthy Choices

Statistics show that every 7 minutes a Canadian dies from heart disease or stroke. Cardiovascular disease takes more lives than other illnesses, but you can protect your heart and reduce the risk by simply adopting a few good habits.

If you already have heart disease, these 7 lifestyle strategies can help improve your health. Read these suggestions and talk to your pharmacist on how you can lead a heart-smart life.

Stop Smoking

Tobacco and second hand smoke can increase your chance of developing heart disease. After quitting, your body will rapidly start to heal from the damage caused by cigarettes. WIthin a year, your risk of a smoking related heart attack can be reduced by 50 percent. Remember there are many tools that aid in quitting: nicotine replacement patches and gum as well support groups and hypnosis.

Be active

Regular exercise prevents and controls risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. It is recommended that you work out at least 30-60 minutes a day, at a moderate pace. Start slowly and work up to the suggested amount.

Eat right

Stick to a diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low fat dairy and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon and sardines). This will help lower your blood pressure and risk of heart disease.

Mind your waist

Slim down to manage heart disease risk factors. Losing weight lowers your blood pressure, reduces blood cholesterol and helps with diabetes. Coupled with a diet and exercise routine, you’ll be back in shape in no time.

Stress

Stress can be a driving factor to heart disease. Lighten your stress load by exercising, laughing, relaxing and taking regular vacations or meditating.

Monitor your blood pressure

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. It’s hard to know if you have high blood pressure unless you get read regularly. Symptoms are hard to find. Visit your local Rexall™ family pharmacy to get your blood pressure read regularly.

Low Dose ASAs

Over the counter medication like ASAs (acetylsalicylic acid) work to reduce the stickiness of platelets in the blood. This will reduce the risk of forming clots in your arteries, which in turn cause heart attacks. ASA isn’t recommended for everyone, so consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking it.