5 Things You Can Do to Prevent Heart Disease

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Regardless of how old you are, it’s never a bad idea to start trying to prevent heart disease.

According to the CDC, around 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year. That makes it the leading cause of death in the United States.

Contrary to what you might think, preventing heart disease is easier than you might think. All it requires you to make are a few simple lifestyle changes.

So what do you need to do?

Read on to learn about five things you can do to prevent common heart issues.

1. Avoid Smoking

Smoking cigarettes is one of the easiest ways to increase your risk for many diseases and health conditions, including heart disease. Cutting back or quitting altogether should therefore be a priority of yours.

Unfortunately, if someone around you smokes, they can still increase your chances of heart disease through secondhand smoke. Try your best to avoid direct exposure.

2. Get Active

As desk jobs continue to become more and more common, society as a whole becomes more sedentary. Even if you spend most of your time in a desk chair, make a point to get active each day.

Exercising even 30 minutes a day can help cut back on your risk of heart disease. It can also help you combat many other health issues.

3. Eat the Right Foods

Your diet has a huge impact on your heart’s health. Treat your body right by loading up on healthy, heart-friendly foods. Some of these include:

Healthy fats, like olive oil
Lean meats
Fruit and vegetables
Whole grains

Eating a balanced and nutritious diet is essential no matter how old you are.

4. Avoid the Wrong Ones

At the same time, you also want to avoid eating other harmful foods. These include things like:

Saturated fat
Trans fat
Sugar
Salt
Alcohol

If you can’t eliminate them, make a point to consume them in moderation. It might be difficult at first, but your body will thank you in the long run!

5. Get Plenty of Rest

Too many people spend their lives in a lethargic state. Yet besides making you yawn more often than you’d like, sleep deprivation can also impact your heart.

It can lead to everything from obesity and heart disease to diabetes.

Try your best to get at least seven or eight hours of sleep each night. If you don’t, your doctor might one day have to conduct some useful tests to tell whether or not you have heart problems.

Understand How to Prevent Heart Disease

Whether you have a family history of heart disease or just want to live a long and healthy life, making a point to prevent heart disease is always a good idea. And, as this guide explains, doing so is easier than you might think.

Make sure to follow the tips mentioned in this article. In doing so, you’ll be able to reduce your chances of developing common heart issues, ensuring that you live a long and healthy life.

Are you looking to learn more about improving heart health? If so, make sure to check out the rest of our site for more health-related guides and tips.