Think you’re too young to worry about heart disease? Think again! From not smoking to exercising on a regular basis, the habits you develop now have a big impact on your cardiovascular health later in life.
Follow these five tips and you’ll be doing your heart a favor. You’ll feel better and be able to stay active with a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Being smoke-free is one of the best things you can do to protect your heart. Read more about smoking.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance carried in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol to be healthy, but an imbalance of cholesterol in your blood can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Find out more about blood cholesterol and how to manage it.
Blood pressure isn’t usually something you can feel. If it’s too high, it needs to be treated. Read about how to lower blood pressure.
It’s important to manage your diabetes to help prevent a heart attack or stroke. Health problems caused by diabetes and prevention measures.
Regular, moderate physical activity is great for your heart health. It’s never too late to start and get the benefits. It’s also important to sit less during your day and break up your sitting time. See tips for staying physically active.
Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of heart disease and other health problems. It can help to know your body mass index and waist measurements and what these mean. Follow these tips to maintain a healthy weight.
Eating a varied diet of healthy foods can help with your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. Learn how these heart-healthy foods improve the health of your heart.
There are also specific changes you can make to your diet to help prevent heart disease:
➧Eat less salt: Reducing your salt intake is good for your blood pressure. Read about the recommended salt intake
➧Replace unhealthy fats with healthy fats: Replacing saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats can reduce your risk of heart disease. See diet low in saturated fat.
➧Limit alcohol: Alcohol and Health: What you should know!
We know that there can be a greater risk of heart disease for people who have depression, are socially isolated or do not have good social support. Having a good social life with family and friends can help.
Depression is more than feeling sad or low. If you feel depressed for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor, a family member or someone you know well.
Be smoke-free
Being smoke-free is one of the best things you can do to protect your heart. Read more about smoking.
Manage your blood cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance carried in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol to be healthy, but an imbalance of cholesterol in your blood can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Find out more about blood cholesterol and how to manage it.
Manage your blood pressure
Blood pressure isn’t usually something you can feel. If it’s too high, it needs to be treated. Read about how to lower blood pressure.
Manage diabetes
It’s important to manage your diabetes to help prevent a heart attack or stroke. Health problems caused by diabetes and prevention measures.
Be physically active
Regular, moderate physical activity is great for your heart health. It’s never too late to start and get the benefits. It’s also important to sit less during your day and break up your sitting time. See tips for staying physically active.
Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of heart disease and other health problems. It can help to know your body mass index and waist measurements and what these mean. Follow these tips to maintain a healthy weight.
Enjoy a variety of nutritious foods
Eating a varied diet of healthy foods can help with your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. Learn how these heart-healthy foods improve the health of your heart.
There are also specific changes you can make to your diet to help prevent heart disease:
➧Eat less salt: Reducing your salt intake is good for your blood pressure. Read about the recommended salt intake
➧Replace unhealthy fats with healthy fats: Replacing saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats can reduce your risk of heart disease. See diet low in saturated fat.
➧Limit alcohol: Alcohol and Health: What you should know!
Look after your mental health
We know that there can be a greater risk of heart disease for people who have depression, are socially isolated or do not have good social support. Having a good social life with family and friends can help.
Depression is more than feeling sad or low. If you feel depressed for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor, a family member or someone you know well.