Warning Signs and Prevention to Heart Attack (Part 2)

heart attackRisk factors for a heart attack

* Smoking
* Diabetes
* Aging: 83% of people who die from heart disease are 65 years or more.
* High cholesterol
* Blood Pressure (blood) high
* Family history of heart attack
* Race: African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans and Native Hawaiians are at greater risk.
* Atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.
* Lack of exercise
* Stress
* Obesity
* Gender: More men have heart attacks, although heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women.

How I can avoid having a heart attack?

Talk to your family doctor about your specific risk factors (see box above) to a heart attack and how to reduce your risk. Your doctor can say:

* Stop smoking. Your doctor can help. If you do not smoke do not start smoking.
* Eat a healthy diet. Cut back on foods high in saturated fat and sodium (salt) in order to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Ask your doctor how to start eating a healthy diet.

* Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
* Exercise. This sounds hard if you have not exercised for some time, but try to work up to at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (that raises your heart rate) at least four times a week.
* Lose weight if overweight. Your doctor can advise on the best ways to lose weight.
* Control your blood sugar if you have hypertension.

Talk to your doctor about whether aspirin would help reduce your risk of having a heart attack. Aspirin can help prevent your blood from forming clots that can eventually block arteries.

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