From diabetes to high blood pressure to smoking and stress, there are many factors that can cause someone to have a heart attack or stroke.
Ways To Lead A Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
Heart attack is the No.1 killer in the United States. More than 610,000 people die from heart disease each year, along with stroke being the No. 5 cause of death, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One of the biggest contributors that cause a heart attack or stroke is lack of commitment to a healthy lifestyle. We've compiled a list of all the ways that lead to a healthier way of life. These steps will help reduce the chances of getting a heart attack and stroke.
Quit Smoking
Research shows that even people who smoke anywhere from 1 to 5 cigarettes per day can show early signs of heart disease.
Exercising, gum chewing, tooth picking, and even seeing a movie can decrease temptations to smoking cigarettes. Anything that will keep a person distracted from wanting a cigarette.
Quitting smoking not only adds more years to life but it drastically improves the quality of life.
Exercise
It can be challenging to find time to exercise, especially when managing work and family; however, by adding 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week can help prevent heart attacks and strokes, according to Heart.Org. Physical activities such as cycling, walking, playing basketball, running, and swimming can help make the heart stronger.
Control Blood Sugar
It's not easy to keep track of how much sugar is consumed throughout the day, but doing so may help prevent heart attacks or strokes, especially with people who have been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes. It's good to avoid empty calories from drinking sodas, cookies, cakes, and candies. In addition, it's important to avoid foods with added sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup. Craving sugar? It's best to eat various colorful fruits such as apples, bananas, and grapefruit.
Lower Salt Intake
Wondering what the daily sodium intake should be? The American Heart Association recommends a daily intake of 1,500 milligrams per day and maximum of 2,400 milligrams. Most Americans get their daily salt intake from fast foods. Cutting back on this should help reduce sodium intake.
