Heart disease is the major killer disease that accounts for major deaths in the United States. Though there is much talk about “heart disease prevention”, in real scenario many people are not inclined to adapt to changed lifestyle in order to prevent heart disease.
Heart disease prevention cannot be achieved without any commitment but at the same time heart disease prevention doesn t mean that you will get deprived of all your life s fun and frolic activities. What is needed of you is common sense and practicing a healthy lifestyle.
Be aware of Your Risk Factors Step 1 of Heart Disease Prevention
Be more realistic and look at the various risk factors that you may get exposed to. There are various risk factors such as age, family history of heart disease, ethnicity (Caucasians are less prone to heart diseases than African-American), alcohol consumption, smoking habits, lifestyle, high cholesterol, and diabetes all can influence onset of heart disease in you and you should make a realistic approach to ascertain where you stand in the midst of the aforesaid risk factors.
Abnormal body weight and obesity can also cause heart diseases and you can also assess your chances of getting affected with heart disease with the above two causes. Consult your doctor and get to know other risk factors.
Be Aware of Test Results Step 2 of Heart Disease Prevention
Be aware of the various levels of test results, not only your cholesterol level, but also other related tests such as blood glucose level, your body mass index, etc, that may have influence on your heart condition. A good knowledge about the appropriate levels can make you to self assess before you could make a visit to your doctor. There are various tests and few specific tests with which your heart condition can be assessed.
For example, the latest A-1-C test can be used to get a clear picture about your heart s health and the same can usefully be interpreted with other conditions such as diabetes, etc. Keeping the figures on your fingertips can make you confident while you look at the test results.
Change in Lifestyle Step 3 of Heart Disease Prevention
Heart disease can easily be kept under check with a slight change in lifestyle. For example, if you are a smoker, a reduction in smoking, preferably a total abstinence can reduce your risk of getting heart disease to a very great extent. If you are obese or over weight, then even a reduction 5 to 10 pounds of body weight can reduce the risk of heart disease to a whopping 40 percent.
You should always be aware of the various beneficial factors of the change in lifestyle so that you can make your mind more receptive to adapt the change freely and with ease.
You can also allot ample time for you to get used to or adapted to the new lifestyle and there is no necessity for you to get adapted within a very short time. Shedding few pounds of body weight or reducing your blood pressure by few points can really help you to witness a major change in your fitness.
Never hesitate to ask your doctor or your friends for assistance or guidance, as it is your life that is at risk. Your doctor is the right person to assess your condition and prescribe the correct medication and help you to adapt to a new healthy lifestyle.
Heart disease prevention is in fact very easy and what is expected of you in a change in mindset and nothing else.