Heart disease causes over 700,000 heart attacks each year and kills over 85% of them. Over 7 million Americans have suffered a heart attack. There are many risk factors that contribute to whether or not a person will have heart disease. Let’s take a look at those factors and dive into how we can prevent them!
Risk Factors
Uncontrollable
Most of the factors for heart disease are controllable, but there are some that are not. Some of the factors that cannot be controlled include:
- Sex
- Age
- Family history
- Race
Controllable
Since there’s nothing that we can do about these factors, we’re going to focus on what we can control.
- Smoking
- Cholesterol levels
- Diet
- Exercise
- Weight
- Stress
Let’s break down each controllable factor and how you can reduce your risk of getting heart disease!
How to Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Quit Smoking
Those who smoke have double the risk of heart disease and are more likely to die of a heart attack than those who do not smoke. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, quit now. The benefits are endless. Smoking is the easiest preventable risk factor for heart disease!
Lower Cholesterol Levels
The risk for heart disease increases as your cholesterol levels rise. A diet low in cholesterol and saturated and trans fats and high in complex carbs and good fats will help you get to good cholesterol levels!
Control High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is the most common heart disease risk factor. High blood pressure is widely known as the silent killer and is a huge factor for many different health conditions, the most serious of which being heart disease. Take supplements like L-arginine Plus and HeartBeet Complete to help lower your blood pressure naturally!
Exercise Regularly
A sedentary life is a factor in many different health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and many other problems. Regular exercise can help you lose weight, lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and increase overall wellbeing!
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Excess weight puts strain on your heart and all your other muscles! Being overweight also makes exercising a lot harder as well. If you’re overweight, seek to lose weight to give your heart a break and feel better overall!
Control Stress
Poorly controlled stress and constant negative emotions puts unnecessary stress on your heart. Learn to manage all the stress that you have in your life through exercise, relaxation, meditation, yoga, and any other stress-relieving activity.