1. Quit smoking.
Some people are able to do it cold turkey but if you can’t do it on your own you have options. The American Lung Association offers support programs to assist you on your journey and there are seven FDA-approved medications you can discuss with your doctor to help you quit smoking.
2. Revise your diet and eating habits.
Unhealthy eating habits accompanied with high blood pressure is something you can control. Put away the fatty, greasy meats like pork chops, ham hocks and replace them with leaner meats like fish. Instead of frying your meat in vegetable oil or shortening, bake your meat and use olive oil instead. If you love sweet stuff substitute candy and processed snack cakes for fresh fruits and nuts to curb that sweet tooth craving.
READ: Avoiding These Foods Can Help Prevent Your Next Heart Attack
3. Lose weight and exercise regularly.
Research has found that being obese is linked to bad cholesterol and this can also cause high blood pressure and diabetes. Changing your eating habits and maintaining an exercise regimen or physical activity can greatly reduce your chances of heart disease.
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4. Lower your alcohol consumption.
Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and experts suggest that men should have no more than two drinks a day and women shouldn’t have more than one drink a day.
5. Increase your vitamin D intake naturally or with medication.
Your body naturally produces vitamin D when you’re out in the sun but if you are not getting enough sun rays I suggest you consult with your doctor and consider taking supplements. Studies have shown that vitamin D helps keep abnormal cells from multiplying in the breast and colon tissues and it regulates blood pressure in the kidneys and regulates the blood sugar levels in the pancreas.
6. Cardiac rehabilitation programs.
If you have recovered from a heart attack then I say continue to make adjustments to your lifestyle and make sure you stay consistent with your supervised program. Attending a cardiac rehab gives you a team of people who would support you by educating you on living healthier, find ways to alleviate stress and guide you through a physical activity or exercise regime to keep you focused and accountable on your journey of recovery.
READ: Your Guide To: Life After A Heart Attack
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Implementing a few changes within your current lifestyle can greatly reduce your chances of having a heart attack and reverse the damages caused by poor lifestyle choices over the years. Just remember the bad choices you’ve made in the past regarding your health do not have to be your future. Some things take time to adjust to but in order to move forward, you must change your mindset and take action to live healthier than you did in the past.
