Preventing Heart Disease
Doctors use heart disease as a general term for a number of diseases that affect the arteries. Hypertension or high blood pressure is the primary cause of heart disease. Altogether, heart disease is the leading cause of premature death, killing one in three men and one in five women prematurely. So much can be done to prevent it.
Maintaining a healthy diet can help keep your blood pressure down. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, which provide nutrients such as potassium and fiber. Also, eat foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
Avoid sodium by limiting the amount of salt you add to your food. Be aware that many processed foods and restaurant meals are high in sodium.
Maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight can raise your blood pressure. Losing weight can help you lower your blood pressure.
Maintain an active lifestyle. Physical activity can help lower blood pressure. The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate physical activities for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Avoid smoking and smokey environments.Smoking injures blood vessels and speeds up the hardening of the arteries. Further, smoking is a major risk for heart disease and stroke.
