Help Prevent A Heart Attack: Get Moving!

Preventing a heart attack should be one of the things that concerns you most. After all, heart disease and heart attacks are some of the leading causes of death among people these days. And while it is obviously not possible to completely prevent having a heart attack, there are several important ways that you can help guard yourself against suffering a heart attack.

Tired of hearing the advice about the prevention of heart attacks? I think people like me will continue to provide advice on ways to prevent heart attacks until the number of people who suffer the effects of heart attacks decreased significantly. If you have not taken seriously the warnings and advice you have heard, seen and read, then please read on to learn simple ways of preventing heart attacks for almost everyone.

Because the heart is a muscle can be worked and conditioned like all other muscles in the body. Just as we can distinguish between people who are in good condition and those in poor condition, so that we can distinguish between a heart in good condition or bad condition. One of the best ways to keep your heart health and hence to prevent heart attacks is to get in shape. Exercise is very, very important in trying to prevent heart attacks from taking your life.

Cardio

Although 73 percent of women know how to prevent heart disease, many are unaware of how to treat it once a diagnosis has been made.

In a survey of 1,979 women over age 35, only 55 percent said they understand how to treat heart disease. Respondents often incorrectly named prevention techniques such as exercise and healthy eating as treatment options, and less than 10 percent named actual treatments such as angioplasty and stent placement.

Hispanics and African-Americans, both groups considered high risk for heart disease, twice as likely as Caucasian women to say they do not know any treatment at all.

The survey was conducted by the "Healthy From the Heart" campaign sponsored by the National Women's Health Resource Center and Cordis Corp. The campaign encourages women to learn about treatment options for coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease, so they can make more informed decisions well if it is diagnosed.

"The good news is that women realize that they are at risk of heart disease. The bad news is that they are too confident in their ability to prevent and treat it," said Dr. Cindy Grines, an interventional cardiologist with the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oaks, Mich. "Women need to realize that education is the key to conquering the threat of coronary artery disease There are various treatment options now available .."

Top 10 Tips for Better Heart Health

Valentine's Day makes February a natural for American Heart Month. How can you make sure your heart will keep going pitter-patter, without going kerplunk? Let us count the ways...

Here are our top 10 tips for a healthy ticker:

1. Fill up on fiber. Not only does fiber help lower levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, it can aid weight management. Being overweight raises your risk of heart failure by a third, while being obese doubles it. While two-thirds of Americans are too heavy, only half get enough fiber. Top sources include oats, beans, raspberries, blackberries, oranges and green peas.

2. Go bananas. I did when I learned that 99 percent of women and 90 percent of men don't get enough potassium in their diet. Responsible for regulating the fluid balance in our cells, potassium also blunts the effects of excess sodium. Too much sodium and too little potassium is a recipe for high blood pressure. Strike a healthier balance by cutting back on salt and increasing potassium intake with bananas, potatoes, broccoli and kiwi.

3. Say "no" to that extra cup of joe. Four or more cups of daily brew could elevate blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Drinking more than two cups of coffee a day can harden the arteries and contribute to arteriosclerosis. Switch to tea; its heart-healthy benefits include lower blood pressure and reduced inflammation.