Articles
Strategies to prevent heart disease
2. Exercise for about 30 minutes on most days of the week
5. Get enough quality sleep
Content
1. Don't smoke or use tobacco
2. Get moving: Aim for at least 30 to 60 minutes of activity daily
3. Eat a heart-healthy diet
4. Maintain a healthy weight
5. Get good quality sleep
6. Manage stress
7. Get regular health screenings
1. Don't smoke or use tobacco
One of the best things you can do for your heart is to stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco. Even if you're not a smoker, be sure to avoid secondhand smoke.
Chemicals in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels. Cigarette smoke reduces the oxygen in your blood, which increases your blood pressure and heart rate because your heart has to work harder to supply enough oxygen to your body and brain.
There's good news though. Your risk of heart disease starts to drop in as little as a day after quitting. After a year without cigarettes, your risk of heart disease drops to about half that of a smoker. No matter how long or how much you smoked, you'll start reaping rewards as soon as you quit.
