Heart Disease Health Center
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Tips for Reducing Heart Disease Risk
Here are some ways you can reduce your risk of heart disease.
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Quit
smoking. Smokers have more than twice the risk for heart attack as nonsmokers and are
much more likely to die if they suffer a heart attack. If you smoke, quit.
Better yet, never start smoking at all.
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Improve cholesterol levels. The risk for heart disease increases as
your total amount of cholesterol increases. A total cholesterol level over 200,
a HDL, or "good" cholesterol level under 40, or a LDL, or "bad"
cholesterol level over 160 indicates an increased risk for heart disease. Of
course, interpretation of cholesterol values must be individualized, taking
into account all of your risk factors for heart disease. A diet low in cholesterol and
saturated fat will lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk for heart
disease.
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Control high blood
pressure. Over 50 million people in the U.S. have hypertension, or high
blood pressure, making it the most common heart disease risk factor. One in
four adults has systolic blood pressure (the upper number) over 140, and/or
diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) over 90, which is the definition of
hypertension. Like cholesterol, blood pressure interpretation should be
individualized, taking into account your entire risk profile. If treatment is
warranted, today's blood pressure medications are effective, safe, and easy to
take.
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Get active. Many of us
lead sedentary lives, exercising infrequently or not at all. People who don't
exercise have higher rates of death and heart disease compared to people who
perform even mild to moderate amounts of physical activity. Even leisure-time
activities like gardening or walking can lower your risk of heart disease.
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Eat right. Eat a
heart-healthy diet low in fat and cholesterol. Try to increase the amounts of
vitamins you eat, especially antioxidants, which have been proven to lower your
risk for heart disease.
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Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts
significant strain on your heart and worsens several other heart disease risk
factors such as diabetes. Researchers now know that obesity itself increases
heart disease risk. By eating right and exercising, you can lose weight and
reduce your risk of heart disease.
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Manage
stress and anger. Poorly controlled stress and anger can lead to heart
attacks and strokes. Use stress and anger management techniques to lower your
risk.
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Control diabetes. If not properly controlled, diabetes can lead to significant heart damage including heart attacks and death.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Heart
Center.
WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic
Reviewed by
Robert J Bryg, MD on January 24, 2008
Portions of this page © Cleveland Clinic 2008