Preventative Measures: How to Reduce Your Heart Disease Risk

Heart disease is a serious health issue in the United States and other countries throughout the world. The older you get the higher your risk, but even young people can have issues with their heart. You can’t always control whether your heart stays in good shape, but there are ways to reduce your chances of developing heart disease, so you can protect yourself as much as possible.

Not only does that give you the opportunity to live a longer, healthier life, but it can also create peace of mind and help reduce anxiety. Fortunately, a lot of the ways to reduce your risk of heart disease are also easy to do, and they don’t take a lot to get started. Even small changes can make a big difference, depending on how you currently take care of your health and whether you have significant, current risk factors for heart disease.

Your Diet Matters When Protecting Your Heart

What you eat and how much of it you consume both matter when trying to take better care of your heart. After all, it’s not just whether you’re having red meat or sugar. It’s how often you eat those things, whether they’re a big part of your diet, and what you pair them with. Someone who has an occasional slice or cake or piece of steak is generally taking better care of their heart than someone who’s diet consists of those things, all other things being equal.

Movement and Exercise Play Big Roles

Medical professionals like Ian Weisberg will also tell you that how much exercise you’re getting matters. Being sedentary is a big risk for heart disease, especially if you’re also overweight or have a poor diet. If you don’t like the traditional forms of exercise and don’t want to hit the gym, there are plenty of things you can do to get moving. Even walking is very beneficial, so you don’t have to run or jog in order to reduce your risk of heart disease, but you certainly can if you want to.

Smoking and Drinking Increase Your Risk

According to Dr. Ian Weisberg and other medical professionals, both smoking and drinking increase your heart disease risk. If you smoke, it’s a good idea to quit, and you should either not drink at all or limit it to very occasionally. A lot of people smoke or drink to relieve stress, and unfortunately, stress is another factor to consider when you’re trying to take good care of your heart. Finding healthy ways to de-stress is the right choice, but it generally takes some trial and error.

Working With Your Doctor Can Provide Support

The best thing you can do in order to reduce your personal heart disease risk is to work with your doctor. That’s because everyone is different, and the changes you need to make might be different from what someone else should do. Your lifestyle and choices are unique to you, and your plan to reduce your heart disease risk should be, as well.