How to protect your heart
Author: Dr. Lee
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Time: 2010/11/20 16:39:03
Stop smoking or using tobacco products and avoid secondhand smoke. Stop smoking and your risk for smoking-related heart problems drops sharply after just one year.
Get active in any way you like. Participation in regular exercise can reduce your risk of fatal heart disease by nearly 25 percent.
Eat a heart-healthy diet. That doesn't mean eliminating foods you love, but cutting back and filling in the spaces with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products will tell your heart you're thinking of it with every bite.
Get to a healthy weight and stay there. Excess weight can contribute to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Learn your body mass index (BMI) and target a healthy number with diet and exercise.
Get regular screenings. Keep track of cholesterol and blood pressure and take action when numbers pose a problem.
Know the symptoms of a heart attack
Uncomfortable pressure, fullness or a squeezing sensation in the center of your chest. It may last a few minutes, or go away and come back.
Chest discomfort that spreads to your shoulders, neck, jaw, arms or back.
Chest discomfort that arrives with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
Don't wait if you or someone else exhibits these symptoms. Call 911 right away.
If you think you might be having a heart attack, chew or crush and swallow a regular aspirin tablet.
