Healthy Fresno

The first step to protecting your heart is to know how healthy you are and whether you are at risk for developing heart disease. Talk with your doctor about adopting some of these lifestyle changes to prevent heart disease:

• Quit tobacco use. Smoking cigarettes can cause an increase in blood pressure and a greater tendency for blood to clot. High blood pressure and blood clots can both cause a heart attack or stroke.

• Lose weight. A higher-than-normal body weight for your height puts extra pressure on your heart because it forces your heart to pump harder to send blood through your body. Also, people who are overweight tend to have eating habits that contribute to higher cholesterol levels and diabetes. These conditions can increase the risk for heart disease on their own.

• Start exercising regularly. Like many muscles in your body, the heart muscle gets stronger with more use. Regular physical activity will help your heart pump more blood with less effort. Physical activity can also reduce cholesterol levels and help you reach your weight-loss goals.

• Eat low-fat, low-sodium foods. Your diet can be a major factor in whether you develop heart disease. Fatty foods like potato chips and cheeseburgers increase the amount of cholesterol in your blood stream. And sodium can contribute to high blood pressure. High cholesterol levels and high blood pressure can both lead to heart disease and other chronic conditions.

• Learn stress-management tools. Stress can affect your body in many ways and contributes to your risk for developing heart disease. Find positive ways to handle stress, such as deep breathing exercises and mental imagery techniques.
  

 
(Source for this section: American Heart Association)