Better lifestyle habits can help you reduce your risk for heart attack. Learn
what you can do to help prevent heart disease and stroke.
Managing Your Weight
The key to losing weight and keeping it off is to understand what really
motivates you. Once you’ve felt the initial excitement of losing the first few
pounds, you must find a way to turn that enthusiasm into the willpower to stick
with your eating plan. You will encounter both ups and downs as you learn to
maintain your weight. To help you through the downs, you need coping
strategies. Think about what you really want to achieve. That desire will help
you turn your eating and exercise strategies into a lifestyle that leads to
lifelong weight control.
Exercise & Fitness
Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and
most Americans are not physically active enough to gain any health benefits.
Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking or many
other activities can help your heart. Whether it's included in a structured
exercise program or part of your daily routine, all physical activity adds up to
a healthier heart.
Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable
cause of premature death in the United States. It accounts for nearly 440,000
deaths each year, of which more than 135,000 are due to smoking related
cardiovascular diseases. Cigarette smokers are two-to-three times more likely to
die from coronary heart disease than nonsmokers.