Heart Disease Prevention

https://youtu.be/xBAvxnT0ZvI – Hit the link for a quick video on heart disease.

The term “heart disease” refers to several types of heart conditions. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death. The most common of these conditions is coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary artery disease affects the flow of oxygen rich blood to your heart, which is caused by a buildup of cholesterol and other substances such as plaque. The good news is, you can take actions and make lifestyle changes that can positively impact your health and reduce the risk of heart disease. 

How can heart disease affect you?

In some cases, heart disease can be silent and not diagnosed until signs and symptoms arise. The signs and symptoms include: 

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Irregular heartbeats (Arrhythmias)
• Heart attack
• Heart failure

If left untreated heart disease may lead to death. It is important to follow up regularly with your primary care provider. 

What can increase your risk? 

The following factors may increase your risk for heart disease: 

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Diets high in saturated fats or trans fats
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Over consumption of alcohol
• Diabetes
• A family history of heart disease

Minimizing and preventing heart disease 

Let’s start with diet. This does not have to be as difficult as it sounds. You can start by: 

• Eating a heart healthy diet such as a DASH diet (dietary approach to stop Hypertension) as encouraged by your primary care provider. Another example would be the Mediterranean diet.
• Eat less salt (sodium). We recommend asking your physician how much sodium is safe for you.
• Limit unhealthy fats, such as saturated and trans fats. We recommend eating less red meat and avoiding processed foods. 
• Add healthy fats to your diet (Omega-3 fatty acids). You can supplement these or find them in fatty fish like Salmon.
• Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, and more whole grains.
• Avoids or minimizes foods and beverages with added sugars.

Quick lifestyle tips

• Get regular exercise. Start with 30 minutes per day 3 days per week and increase as able from there. Exercise should increase your heart rate and make you sweat. Ask your primary care provider if you have preexisting conditions that may prevent strenuous activity.
• Do not use products containing nicotine or tobacco. They can damage your heart and blood vessels. ASK YOU DOCTOR IF YOU NEED HELP QUITTING 
• Minimize consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. 

https://youtu.be/xBAvxnT0ZvI – Hit the link for a quick video on heart disease.

As always, we are here to help! At NewEraHH (NEHH), we aim to provide education and make information easily accessible to our patients, families, and communities.

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_{^{This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your primary care provider.}}

References

_{^{FreeMedEducation. (2021, January 12). What happens during a heart attack? – what is coronary heart disease? YouTube. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://youtu.be/xBAvxnT0ZvI}}

_{^{©2022 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. . (n.d.). American Heart Association: To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. www.heart.org. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://www.heart.org/}}

_{^{Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, January 28). Heart disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/}}