It is Never too Late to be Heart-Smart
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While most people aren't diagnosed with heart disease until after middle age, the damage can begin when you are much younger. However‚ lifestyle changes at any age can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease and strokes and can help prevent an existing condition from getting worse.
Even simple lifestyle changes, like adding a single extra serving of fruit and vegetables to your diet each day, can yield improvements in your health. Here are some top tips for preventing heart disease and stroke.
Here are some important tips for protecting your heart health:
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
- Eat 5 - 10 servings of vegetables each day
- Choose low-fat dairy and lean cuts of meat and fish
- Eat less salt. Keep an eye on sodium content in processed food and avoid adding salt to home-cooked meals
- Do not smoke
- Stay active -- Work towards including 30 minutes of moderate physical activity into most days of the week
- Consume alcohol in moderation - that means no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink a day for women
- Speak your doctor about your blood pressure and blood cholesterol to make sure they are within normal limits
- Keep stress in check - take time every day to relax and unwind
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