5 Practical Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

Heart disease covers a wide range of conditions, from arrhythmias to dysfunction of important components and support tissues of the heart. Equally, there are a wide range of causes for heart disease, both preventable and not. 

As a leader in vascular medicine in the Miami, Florida, area, Enrique Hernandez, MD, of Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions. Today, we offer five practical ways to prevent heart disease. 

5 practical ways to prevent heart disease

With some causes of heart disease, you can’t do much except avoid adding risk factors. Some common, non-preventable reasons for heart disease include: 

• Getting older
• Congenital defects and genetic history
• Gender: Men have a greater risk of developing heart disease

Conversely, you can have an influence on many preventable reasons for heart disease. Let’s look at five of the most impactful steps you can take to lower your risk of developing heart disease. 

1. Manage your weight

Being at or near your ideal body mass makes things easier on your heart. Extra pounds place increased stress on all parts of your circulatory system, including blood vessels and the heart. People who are obese have a greater risk of metabolic conditions that also affect the heart. 

2. Monitor food and drink

Adopting a heart-friendly eating plan makes it easier for your heart to function as well as preventing other factors that raise your heart disease risk. Consider both the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet. 

Both offer plenty of tasty options focused on fruits and vegetables along with lean proteins and healthy fats. Each can also help you meet weight loss goals. 

Limiting alcohol also lowers your risk of raising your blood pressure, a major heart disease risk factor. 

3. Boost activity levels

Another heart-friendly strategy that can help with weight loss, adding 150 minutes of moderate activity every week, builds powerful protection against heart disease and other conditions, like high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and stress. 

Aim for 30 minutes a day, five times a week. You can break down each day’s efforts into two 15-minute sessions or even three 10-minute mini bursts. Low-impact activities like biking, swimming, and walking are usually manageable for people of virtually any age. 

4. Control your comorbidities

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are other medical conditions that don’t mix well with heart disease. Keeping these conditions under control reduces the chances that they aggravate or contribute to heart disease. 

Talk with Dr. Hernandez about these interactions and the importance of following the treatment plans for each. 

5. Stop using tobacco products

The most preventable risk factor for heart disease and stroke is tobacco use. It doesn’t matter what form of tobacco you use, whether it’s smoked, vaped, or chewed. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, raising your heart rate and blood pressure. 

For more help with heart disease prevention and treatment, contact Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins at the nearest of our two Miami locations. Call or click to book your appointment now.