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Living a healthy lifestyle is essential to long term health and preventing heart disease.

However, a huge makeover isn’t necessary – start with these simple heart health ideas to get going and you’ll find it easier to start living a healthy life.

Avoid smoking

Smoking damages your body in several ways, such as:

  • Reducing the amount of oxygen in the blood
  • Damaging blood vessel walls
  • Contributing to atherosclerosis
  • Increasing the stiffness of the blood vessels
  • Increasing the chances of heart attacks, strokes, and angina

Smoking

Manage blood cholesterol

  • Cholesterol is a fatty substance carried in the blood
  • The body produces most cholesterol and some comes from foods
  • There are two types: low-density lipoproteins (good) and high-density lipoproteins (bad)
  • Good cholesterol helps keep cholesterol from building up in the arteries
  • Bad cholesterol causes cholesterol build-up and blockage in the arteries
  • Too much cholesterol can cause chest pain and a heart attack

Manage blood pressure

  • High blood pressure over a long period of time is called hypertension
  • High blood pressure is one of the main risk factors for heart disease
  • Age increases the chances of high blood pressure
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and kidney issues

Manage diabetes

Diabetes is:

  • The leading cause of blindness in working adults
  • Leading cause of kidney failure and dialysis
  • Increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke by up to four times
  • A major cause of limb amputations
  • Affects mental health and leads to depression, anxiety, and distress

Be physically active

  • Regular, moderate physical activity is great for heart health
  • Sit less during the day and break up sitting time

Closeup of healthy diet and weight loss concept

Achieve and maintain a healthy weight

  • Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of heart disease
  • Know your body mass index and waist measurements

Eat a variety of nutritious food

  • A varied diet of healthy foods can help with weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol
  • Eat less salt to improve blood pressure
  • Replace unhealthy fats with healthy ones
  • Limit alcohol intake

Manage mental health

  • People with depression have a greater risk of heart disease
  • Those who are socially isolated or don’t have hood social support also have a greater risk
  • Having a good social life with family and friends helps
  • Talk to a doctor or family member if experiencing depression for more than two weeks