Heart disease may be the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. You can take preventative action now to help ensure that you won't be diagnosed with it later.
There are some risk factors including family history and age (over 35 is at higher risk) that you cannot do much about. But there are other factors that you have lots of control over.
Two of the steps you can take to avoid heart disease include quitting smoking or never starting and getting regular exercise. If you do these they will help you avoid heart problems. We will discuss these two steps in depth.
Smoking or using other tobacco products is one of the most significant risk factors for developing heart problems. When it comes to heart disease prevention, smoking is not safe.
This means that even cigarettes that are considered to be low risk can cause heart complications. These include smokeless tobacco, low-tar, and low-nicotine cigarettes. Secondhand smoke also poses a threat to you or those around you.
It is important to keep in mind that tobacco smoke contains more than 4,800 chemicals. Many of these can damage your heart, blood vessels, and brain. The chemicals found in cigarette smoke work to narrow the arteries.
Atherosclerosis is the disease that occurs when the arteries are narrowed. If the arteries are narrowed the blood that is in the body cannot flow as freely throughout to all the vital organs.
This is what causes a heart attack and other heart problems. One of the main chemicals found in cigarettes is nicotine.
The nicotine found in cigarette smoke makes your heart work harder by narrowing your blood vessels. As a result, it also increases your heart rate and blood pressure.
Within one year of quitting, your risk of developing heart disease decreases. If you smoke do yourself and your heart a favor today, and quit smoking.
You should take the time to set up and maintain a regular exercise program. Having a regular physical activity that you participate in can greatly reduce your risk of heart problems.
The benefits of an exercise program extend beyond reducing the risk of heart disease. It can help you maintain your weight and decreases other conditions that may put a strain on your heart.
Exercise will reduce high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and the effects of diabetes. Exercise also has been proven to reduce stress, which may also be a factor in heart disease.
A regular exercise plan is often very helpful in reducing heart disease. But even simple tasks like vacuuming, gardening, housekeeping, taking the stairs, and walking the dog all can contribute to a more healthy you.
Working now to prevent heart problems later is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. There are many steps you can take to prevent heart disease. Start today to stop smoking and develop a regular exercise plan.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry has worked as a nurse practitioner for the last 16 years. He has worked in local clinics and the ER and recommends looking into heart disease remedies to avoid a fatal heart attack.
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