Is your heart healthy? Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for both men and women around the world, and in many cases it can be prevented. While little can be done to counter act hereditary factors, there are a variety of lifestyle choices that are made that can be directly linked to an increased chance of developing heart disease. By becoming proactive in the choices that you make daily, you can work to keep your own heart healthy, working to avoid heart disease concerns and issues in the future.

Follow these 5 tips to keep your heart healthy:

1.  Lower Your Stress As millions of people are leading busier and busier lives, the amount of stress that the body experiences daily is on the rise. Stress is often called the silent killer as it rarely has symptoms prior to a medical emergency such as a heart attack. But, there are things that can be done within a person’s life to reduce their stress and its affect on the body. Increasing the amount of exercise weekly, getting enough sleep, maintaining a healthy body weight and managing stressful life situations can all help to reduce stress in a person’s life and its negative health consequences.

2. Stop Smoking- While there is certainly mounting evidence that smoking or breathing second hand smoke is harmful to a person’s health, it has been proven that those who are exposed to smoke have an increased risk of developing heart disease in their lifetimes. Understanding the risk and actually being able to stop smoking are two very different things. If you are having trouble quitting smoking, talk to your health care provider as there are many effective products and techniques available within the medical community that will enable you to stop smoking and to improve your overall state of health.

3. Maintain a Healthy Blood Pressure- When was the last time that you had your blood pressure checked? Do you remember what it was? Many of us are not concerned with our blood pressure until it becomes a serious health issue forcing us to address it. But, having high blood pressure has been linked to a variety of health issues, including heart disease. When you have high blood pressure, your heart is working significantly harder to accomplish the same results as a person with a normal blood pressure. Make sure to have your blood pressure checked at least annually. If it is high, actively work with your physician to reduce it by making changes in your diet and lifestyle as well as by taking prescription drugs if necessary.

4. Begin or Continue an Exercise Routine- You have likely heard that exercise is an important component to living a healthy lifestyle. Exercise and maintaining a healthy heart is crucial in the fight against heart disease. To ensure that your heart is healthy, begin or continue a regular cardiovascular exercise routine, comprised of 20-30 minute routines, 3-5 times per week. As your endurance and strength builds, you can increase both the duration of time you are exercising and the intensity.

5. Maintain a Healthy Diet- Some people pay little attention to the food that they ingest on a daily basis. The food that we eat fuels our bodies, enables us to maintain a healthy body weight and can prevent a variety of illnesses and diseases. There are a variety of food choices in particular that have shown promise in the reduction of heart disease. It is recommended to eat fish high in Omega 3 fatty acids at least twice per week to promote heart health or as a substitute to take dietary supplements that contain the nutrient. Other foods such as green tea have shown the ability to relax arterial walls and to reduce plaque build up, both important in the promotion of a healthy heart.