How can I avoid having a heart attack

Main factors for a heart attack

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Age--Risk increases for men older than 45 years and for women older than 55 years (or after menopause). About 83% of people who die from heart disease are 65 years of age or older.
• High cholesterol level
• High blood pressure
• Family history of heart attack
• Race--African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans and native Hawaiians are at greater risk.
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Lack of exercise
• Stress
• Obesity
• Sex (Gender)--More men have heart attacks, although heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women.

How can I avoid having a heart attack?

Talk to your family doctor about your specific risk factors (see box above) for a heart attack and how to reduce your risk. Your doctor may tell you to do the following:

• Quit smoking. Your doctor can help you. (If you don't smoke, don't start!)
• Eat a healthy diet. Cut back on foods high in saturated fat and sodium (salt) to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. A Mediterranean diet is also a very healthy choice. Ask your doctor about how to improve your diet.
• Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
• Exercise. It may sound hard if you haven't exercised for a while, but try to work up to 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise (that raises your heart rate) 4 to 6 times a week.
• Lose weight if you're overweight. Your doctor can advise you about the best ways to lose weight.
• Control your blood pressure if you have hypertension.

Talk to your doctor about whether aspirin would help reduce your risk of a heart attack. Aspirin can help keep your blood from forming clots that can eventually block the arteries.

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source:

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/basics/291.html

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