Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death worldwide, and it’s mostly preventable by changing your lifestyle and managing risk factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Get moving<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your heart is a muscle and, as with any muscle, exercise is what strengthens it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first step is to\u00a0determine your target heart rate, then\u00a0find an activity you enjoy\u00a0and can stick with for the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Quit smoking<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quitting smoking is tough. But you know that it’s important to quit, and one of the biggest reasons is that it’s linked to heart disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Lose weight<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Losing weight is more than just diet and exercise. It’s a personal journey that involves finding what you like and what works for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Eat heart-healthy foods<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salmon and guacamole are loaded with healthy fats that are good for the heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try\u00a0salmon spread with vegetables\u00a0or some\u00a0easy broiled salmon,\u00a0heart-healthy guacamole\u00a0also makes a great appetizer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Moderate amount of chocolate<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alcohol and cocoa (a key ingredient in chocolate) have antioxidants that have been shown to increase good cholesterol, lower bad cholesterol and improve blood clotting function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Don’t overeat<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This advice primarily applies , when deaths from heart attacks spike thanks to copious amounts of food and temptation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eating a lot of food at once leads to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2460Blood shifting from the heart to the digestive system;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2461Faster and irregular heart rhythms, which can lead to heart attack or heart failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Don’t stress<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are more than 1,400 biochemical\u00a0responses to stress, including a\u00a0rise in blood pressure\u00a0and a faster heart rate. If you don’t manage your stress, it can create more stress and trap you in a stress cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a period of exercise and lifestyle improvement, if you want to know if your heart has become stronger, you can check it by downloading the following app:\u00a0\u201dHeart Rate<\/a>\u201d\u00a0and \u201dAFibCheck<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death worldwide, and it’s mostly preventable by changing your lifestyle and managing risk factors. 1. Get moving Your heart is a muscle and, as with any muscle, exercise is what strengthens it. The first step is to\u00a0determine your target heart rate, then\u00a0find an activity you enjoy\u00a0and can …<\/p>\n