Five Ways to Prevent a Heart Attack

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. killing over 650,000 a year. Don’t become part of that statistic. There are five things you can do to reduce your risk of developing cardiac problems.

Start helping your heart today.

1. Know your blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease.
2. Quit smoking. Smokers are 2-3 times more likely to die of heart disease then non – smokers.
3. Lower your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol can build up in your arteries and cause a heart attack or stroke.
4. Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol can be a cause of high blood pressure and lead to heart attack or stroke.
5. Maintain a healthy weight.  Being overweight puts you at risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. All of these conditions dramatically increase your risk of heart disease.

While genetic predisposition can play  a role in developing heart disease, you can effectively reduce your risk by doing the steps I have listed above. Now you are on your way to becoming heart healthy.