How can you lead a healthier, longer life? If you’ve never experienced a heart attack or stroke, these eight crucial criteria can reduce your risk of suffering one. They are a part of a person’s overall healthy lifestyle as an adult. They can also collaborate with your medical team to create an effective prevention plan (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, registered dietitians, and other professionals).
Use our Check. Change. Control. Calculator to determine your risk of suffering a cardiovascular event within the next ten years if you are between the ages of 40 and 75 and have never experienced a heart attack or stroke. A family history of early heart disease, smoking, kidney illness, and other variables can all raise your risk. The ideal treatment plan for you can be chosen with the assistance of your medical team by being aware of your risk factors. By altering one’s lifestyle, one can reduce many risk factors. Your diet should mostly consist of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, plant-based proteins, lean animal proteins, and fish. Make wise decisions, such as avoiding processed meats, refined carbs, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Utilize the nutrition facts label on packaged foods to reduce sodium, added sugars, and saturated fats while avoiding trans fat.
Moving more is one of the best ways to be healthy, prevent disease, and age well. Adults should exercise 75 minutes per week at a vigorous intensity or 150 minutes per week at a moderate intensity. If you’re already engaged, you can put in more effort to get even bigger benefits. If you’re not currently active, start by standing up more frequently. Keep your weight where it is healthy for you. Lose weight if you are obese or overweight. Reduce your calorie consumption while increasing your workout. You can determine your BMI online (BMI). If you need help, talk to your medical staff about a weight loss plan.
If you don’t already use tobacco products, don’t start smoking, vaping, or using them. There is no tobacco product that is risk-free to use. If you find it challenging to quit smoking or using tobacco, ask the aid of your team to assist you in kicking the habit using time-tested methods. Don’t just go from one cigarette source to another. Attempt to avoid passive smoking as well! If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, high blood sugar, diabetes, or other disorders that put you at higher risk, it’s important to work with your healthcare team and make lifestyle adjustments. One can avoid or manage a number of ailments by altering their diet, getting more exercise, losing weight, and quitting smoking.
Your doctor may recommend statins or other medications to help reduce your cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure if you have a medical problem. Follow the directions on all prescriptions. But unless your doctor specifically instructs you to avoid taking aspirin as a preventative strategy. Daily aspirin may not be of any benefit to someone who has never suffered a heart attack or stroke and may even increase their risk of bleeding. Your doctor might advise you to take a modest dose of aspirin if you’ve already had a heart attack or stroke to lower your risk of experiencing one again.
Keep reading IWMBuzz.com
Source – heart.org