There is no definite cure for heart disease, and most treatment options are very costly. Your doctor will no doubt tell you that the best tool against a heart attack is prevention, through a healthy diet and fitness plan.Here are three important tips on how to prevent heart attack.
1. Follow a heart-healthy dietThe diet you lead today can determine the kind of health you will have tomorrow and in the near future. To keep away from heart problems, your doctor may suggest that you adopt a diet plan called the DASH or the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.A heart healthy diet such as this is low in cholesterol, fat and salt yet rich in vegetables, fruits, low fat dairy and whole grains.It is important to limit "bad fats" in your diet if you want to have healthy heart. More importantly, avoid saturated and trans fats.
These are the kinds of fats that can deposit onto arterial walls, which can lead to heart problems. These "bad fats" can also raise blood cholesterol levels.Instead, take in foods rich in "good fats." These include polyunsaturated fats like omega-3 fatty acids. These are found richly in certain types of fish (herring, mackerel, tuna, salmon and halibut), in legumes and in low-fat protein sources, and in fish oil pills.
Most people simply don't eat any fish on a regular basis, because they are afraid of potential mercury and toxins in many fish today. So they prefer to take a pure fish oil capsule instead.Maintaining a diet that is healthy for the heart doesn't mean that you have to starve yourself. Instead, it is about choosing the right kinds of foods and eating them in the right amounts. For example, you can eat all of the salad or steamed green vegetables that you want. You don't have to "go hungry."
2. Lead a healthy lifestyleTry to evaluate your lifestyle now and see if there are things that need to be done. First and foremost, if you smoke cigarettes and tobacco products, today is a good time to stop.Smoking is one of the leading risk factors in developing heart disease which can lead to heart attack. Tobacco smoke (even when only taken in as second-hand smoke) contains thousands of chemicals that are believed to potentially make your arteries vulnerable to atherosclerosis (narrowing).Leading a healthy lifestyle also means avoiding excess amounts of alcohol (maximum of two drinks per day for men, one for women).Getting off birth control pills for women, especially those over age 35, may also promote better heart health for some individuals, if advised to do so by their individual physician.
3. Get activePhysical activity of any kind that is done regularly may significantly reduce your risk for developing heart disease. An active lifestyle coupled with a healthy weight will achieve even higher pay-off.Indulge in physical exercise regularly; at least 30 to up to 60 minutes of moderate exercise a week might be enough to offer your heart all the benefits it needs. Daily activities like housekeeping, gardening, walking the dog or even simply taking the stairs can be considered as physical exercise.
Going for a long walk every weekend is a great idea.These are just some of the simple tips on how to prevent heart attack. Minor lifestyle and diet changes can have significant impact towards heart health and there is no better time than today to start working on them.Fish Oil for Heart HealthAsk your own doctor for more heart health ideas, including how a simple fish oil pill taken once a day might be an excellent addition to your diet plan. The popular use of fish oil today is growing steadily among heart-health conscious people. Find out why, so you don't miss out on this amazing health food.
