Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Tips By Renowned Cardiologists

Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the USA, causes one in three deaths in women and one in four deaths in men. Cardiovascular disease can refer to a number of conditions, many of which are associated with a process called atherosclerosis (a condition that develops when a substance called plaque accumulates in the walls of the arteries, which causes narrowing of arteries making it difficult for blood to flow through. Formation of a blood clot can block the flow of blood, which can lead to a heart attack/myocardial infarction-MI or stroke). Heart disease increases the risk for life-threatening cardiac emergencies like a cardiac arrest or heart attack.

The good thing is there are ways to help prevent cardiovascular disease:

Maintain Healthy Weight- Obesity or being overweight greatly increases your risk for coronary heart disease. Sadly, two-third of American adults is obese or overweight. One of the most effective ways to maintain a healthy weight is by avoiding eating more calories than you’ll burn off in the same day.

Eat A Healthy Diet- The foods you consume affects the cholesterol, sodium, sugar and saturated fat levels in your body. Maintaining a healthy diet can be instrumental in preventing cardiovascular disease. Your diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, foods high in fiber, low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and low in sodium.

Exercise- Experts recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate activity every week, which is not only a great way to maintain a healthy weight range, but also can lower your BP thus lowering your risk for heart disease.

Quit Smoking- Smoking increases the risk for coronary heart disease. It increases your risk for hardened arteries and blood clots as smoking damages the circulatory system. Also, keep your alcohol consumption in check as heavy drinking can cause formation of blood clots by increasing the risk of platelets clumping together.

Manage Stress- Stress causes overeating and decreases energy to perform any physical activity. Also, you may be inclined to drink and smoke more if you are stressed, which means stress leads to behaviors that increase risks for cardiovascular disease.

Your Family History- You are at an increased risk if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease. So, learn your family health history and share information with your doctor in order to be able to better assess the risk factors for heart disease.

Health Screenings- Significance of health screenings lies in the fact that they can help you determine if you are at risk for heart disease. Get your blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes checked from time to time- these are the biggest cardiovascular disease risk factors. You need to be aware of the warning signs for cardiac arrests or heart attacks, which can mean the difference between life and death.

Manage Diabetes- If you are diabetic, keep your blood glucose in check as people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people without.

Lack of sleep can lead to heart disease, so try and get eight hours of sleep each day. According to the American Heart Association, men should have no more than 9 teaspoons per day and women no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day as the risk for cardiovascular disease increases as you increase the amount of added sugar in your diet.

Contribute towards the safety of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims by getting CPR trained. CPR procedure comprises chest compressions and rescue breaths.