Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. An estimated 600,000 pople die from it every year. About 380,000 people die each year from coronary heart disease, making it the most common form of hearst disease. To put it in perspective, heart disease kills more people that AIDS and every kind of cancer put together. There are things you can do to protect yourself and avoid surgery. If you have any of the risk factors for heart disease it is important you deal with then now when you can benefit from outpatient services rather than waiting to need something more invasive.
Good Heart Health Tips from Florida Physicians
- Do not smoke. Ths is one of the best things you can do for your heart. If you are a smoker, you should quit. When you wuot smokig your body begins to heal itself from all damage done to it by smoking. After one full year of not smoking, the risk of dying fromandnbsp;heart disease. If you have trouble quitting, your doctor can help. Many physicians include smokig cessation as one of the outpatient services they provide.
- Get some exercise. Working out regularly can cut your risk for heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise each day. If that sounds like a lot, you can break it down into smaller chunks. Once you get to the point where you can exercise for 30 minutes a day, you wukk have cut your risk of heart disease by more than 30%. You do not have to go to a gym, you can find other actities that you find fun. Just get moving!
- Watch what you eat. You should incorpoate more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fish into your diet. Fish such as salmon and tuna are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that will help increase your good cholesterol. Studies have also shown that people who eat more nuts, such as almonds, weigh less than those who do not. Research also shows that people who eat diets that include a lot of avocados have much lower cholesterol that people who do not.
- Switch to dark chocolate.If you like chocoate, try munching on some dark chocolate. When you enjoy it in moderation, it can be good for your heart.
- Limit your alcohol and salt intake.While you are watching what you eat and drink, cut down on alcohol and salt. When you take in too much of either, they can raise your risk for heart disease. Salt causes you to hold on to water and can increase your blood pressure. The CDC recommends that women drink no more than one glass of wine a day and men should drink no more than two.
- Get tested for diabetes.Ask your doctor about being tested for this disease andnbsp;A simple blood test can show if you have diabetes or are at risk and is one of the outpatient services most medical offices do. andnbsp;Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your blood vessels and parts of your heart. Many people are pre-diabetic and do not know that. If caught early, you can checnage your diet and prevent yourself from developing full blown diabetes by changing your diet and working out.
- Get regular check upsThe importance of routine check ups cannot be overstated. Find a physician who practices family or internal medicine and get to know them before you are sick. Preventative medicine techniques exist to keep you from getting sick. When you find a doctor you like, you can have routine outpatient services, such as blood work, done to keep you from becoming really sick.
Heart disease is very serious and scary but it can be prevented. Today, nearly one third of all Americans is obese. To add to that, the vast majority of people living in the United States do not get nearly enough exercise every day. There are simple and easy things you can do to cut your risk of heart disease and lead a healthier life. Developing a good relationship with a primary care doctor can do a lot to keep you healthy and out of the hospital.
