Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. One in five deaths is due to heart disease, even though it is largely preventable (CDC).
Keeping your heart healthy starts with living a heart-healthy lifestyle. Knowing what causes heart disease, what puts you at risk for it, and how you can reduce those risks can help you make informed decisions to protect your heart and keep it strong.
Following are some facts:
- High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and occurs when your blood pressure is consistently 130/80 mmHg or higher.
- Your body mass index, or BMI, shows if your weight is in a healthy range for your height and is one measure of your future risk for heart disease.
- Cholesterol helps make hormones, vitamin D and substances to help you digest foods. Your body needs it for good health, but in the right amounts.
- Eating lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, using fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and limiting foods high in saturated fat or sugar-sweetened beverages are all part of a heart-healthy diet.
- Not getting enough sleep or getting poor quality sleep on a regular basis increases the risk of having high blood pressure, heart disease and other medical conditions.
- To strengthen their heart, adults should aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as brisk walking each week.
Learn more about heart disease prevention from The Heart Truth® and visit our online resource center to access blood pressure resources for clinicians and patients.
