Heart attack and stroke prevention: Ways to reduce your risk!

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: A number of heart diseases, including heart attack or stroke, are on the rise over the years. What is surprising is that heart disease, which was once considered an ailment for old people, is now common among the young and is rising.

However, there are steps you can take to help prevent a heart attack or a stroke. These steps involve taking medications and making heart-healthy lifestyle changes.

Medications

Getting proper medical care is important to reduce your risk of a subsequent heart attack as well as help your damaged heart function better.

In addition to that, treating conditions - such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol - that make a heart attack more likely can lower your risk.

Lifestyle factors

Making healthier lifestyle choices can help prevent a heart attack as well as a stroke. These include-

• Eating a heart-healthy diet which includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish and pulses with restricted salt, sugar and fat intake.
• Being active and taking regular physical exercise to help lower your blood pressure as well as maintain cardiovascular fitness. Regular exercise will also help maintain a healthy weight, which will lower your blood pressure.
• Avoiding tobacco use – Tobacco in every form (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or chewable tobacco) is harmful to health. Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the risk of a heart attack.
• Alcohol, whic is also high in calories, should also be used in moderation. Heavy drinking can raise blood pressure which is one of the most important risk factors for having a heart attack or a stroke.