5 Ways to Head Off Heart Attacks
Good news: Fewer people are dying of heart attacks. Nonetheless, heart disease is still the leading cause of death for women and men. So what can you do to help decrease your chance of having a heart attack? Take charge of risk factors. Here's how.
- Try to keep your diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The total fat in your diet should stay between 30 and 35 percent of total calories. Saturated fat should make up less than 10 percent. Ask your doctor to monitor your cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Don't smoke.
- Drink alcohol only moderately, if at all. Low amounts of alcohol may help your heart. Women should limit drinking to one drink per day. Men should have no more than two drinks per day. Beware: Drinking more than two drinks a day raises your risk for high blood pressure.
- Get at least 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise, like brisk walking or biking. Physical activity can help keep blood vessels healthy, increase circulation and metabolism and build muscles. Plus, it can help you reduce body fat and lose excess weight, so your heart doesn't work as hard.
- Eat five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and get plenty of whole grains.
FREE February Events for American Heart Month
Go Red for Women with SWHCS
"Women Are Not Small Men"Friday, Feb. 5: 8 to 11 AM
Features: Lecture, massages, yoga information booths and a raffle.
Living with Heart Failure
Lecture and Health FairThursday, Feb. 11: 8 AM to noon
Features: Lecture, raffle and a health fair that includes cholesterol screenings, electrocardiograms and blood pressure checks from 9:30 AM to noon.
The Electricity of the Heart
What to Do When It "Short-Circuits"Thursday, Feb. 18: 8 to 11 AM
Features: Lecture, CPR and defibrillator demonstrations, vendor booths and a raffle.
All events will be held in Conference Room 2, Rancho Springs Medical Center.
A FREE breakfast will be offered at 8 AM for all events. Please call 1-800-879-1020 to register.
