Preventing Heart Disease: Essential Lifestyle Changes
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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men & women for most racial and ethnic backgrounds in the United States. Approximately every 37 seconds, an American will experience myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke.
According to the American Heart Association the criteria for ideal cardiovascular health are:
- Physical activity 30 minutes /day -total of 150 minutes/week.
- Blood Pressure <120/80 mm Hg
- Fasting blood glucose <100mg/dl
- Total Cholesterol <200
- BMI within range (18.5 -24.99)
- Diet low in saturated food
Unfortunately less than 1% of the US population meets all these criteria. If you have diabetes, it imposes additional challenges to meet these criteria. Adults with diabetes have 2-4 times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than the general population.
Final Tips for heart health
Make a conscious effort to go out there and be active, exercise, and eat healthy. Decrease your time sitting on the couch or your phone. Start walking 5-10 minutes a day and increase it slowly to 30 mins/day 5 times/week.
Try to decrease your meat intake, add vegetables and fresh fruits to your diet. You will see a big difference with subtle changes you make in your everyday life.