10 Simple Lifestyle Changes That Decrease Your Risk of Heart Attack & Stroke
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, “An estimated 1.6 million Canadians are living with heart disease or the effects of a stroke.” That said, up to 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented by making simple lifestyle changes.
- Get sufficient exercise and engage in activities that involve large muscle groups in order to increase strength and endurance such as swimming, walking and yoga.
- Reduce the sugar, trans fats, salt as well as processed and high cholesterol foods in your diet.
- Instead, maintain a diet rich in healthy fats, such as nuts, fish and avocados, vegetables, fiber, calcium, omega 3 and calcium.
- Manage your stress in a healthy way, using methods such as meditation and regular exercise to lower stress levels.
- Get sufficient sleep, ideally six to eight hours a day.
- Quit smoking.
- If you do not smoke, avoid instances where you will be surrounded by people who are smoking.
- Limit your alcohol consumption to one drink a day, maximum.
- Keep your weight in check, which minimizes the imminent risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
- Learn how to identify high blood pressure, or consult with a doctor, and then take steps to manage it.
