It is true that heart disease is the world’s biggest killer of both men and women globally. However, it is also preventable in many cases. Here are some tips on how to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Know Your Numbers

Medical tests will actually give you some insights into your risk for heart disease. That said, it is important that you keep track of your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, inflammatory markers and hemoglobin A1C.

Exercise
According to experts, two and a half hours of cardiovascular exercises per week is recommended in order to keep a healthy mind and body. Regular exercise can help lower the risk not only of cardiovascular disease but also of obesity, diabetes and other medical conditions.

Watch Your Diet

Various studies have shown that a diet high in vegetables, legumes, whole grains, olive oil and fruits can help decrease the incidence of CVD. On the other hand, a diet high in sugar and saturated fats can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30 percent. That said, it is important that you pay close attention to what you eat. Your daily nutrition has also an impact on your heart’s health.

Manage Your Stress

Too much stress can take a toll on one’s overall health. It can increase hormones throughout the body that can lead to an increase in blood pressure. We all experience unnecessary anxiety in our lives and managing it is a big part of being heart-healthy.

Keep the Arteries Healthy
Foods such as red wine, chocolate and berries can actually help decrease blood pressure, prevent clotting, dilate the arteries and lower the cholesterol level. If the lining of your arteries becomes stiff, then you are likely to develop cardiovascular disease. A medical test called EndoPAT can determine whether or not a person is a candidate for building up plaque in the arteries.

 

Know Your Medical History

Before anything else, it is important that you have sufficient information about your family’s medical history. Although heart problem is a medical condition due to lifestyle choices at least 75% of the time, knowing your health history is still very important.

If your mother and father have cardiovascular problems when they were younger, then you should know that early diagnosis in this case is very crucial. The earlier you know what your condition is, the more chance you have to alter your potential destiny. With enough knowledge, you will be more in control of your health.