Control your blood pressure
It is very important to get your blood pressure checked regularly – at least once a year for most adults, and more often if you have high blood pressure.

Eat a healthy diet.
Try to limit saturated fats, foods high in sodium, and added sugars. Eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.

Stay at a healthy weight.
Being overweight or having weight issues can increase your risk for heart disease. This is mostly because they are linked to other heart disease risk factors, including high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Get regular exercise.
Exercise has many benefits, including strengthening your heart and improving your circulation. It can also help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. All of these can lower your risk of heart disease.

Limit alcohol.
Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure. Men should have no more than two alcoholic drinks per day, and women should not have more than one.

Keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels under control.
High levels of cholesterol can clog your arteries and raise your risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack.  High levels of triglyceride may also raise the risk of coronary artery disease, especially in women.

Manage diabetes.
Having diabetes doubles your risk. High blood pressure from diabetes can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. So, it is important to get tested for diabetes, and if you have it, to keep it
under control.

Don’t smoke.
Cigarette smoking raises your blood pressure and puts you at higher risk for heart attack and stroke. If you do not smoke, do not start.  You can talk with your health care provider for help in finding the best way for you to quit.


Manage stress.
Stress is linked to heart disease in many ways. It can raise your blood pressure. Extreme stress can be a “trigger” for a heart attack. Also, some common ways of coping with stress, such as overeating, heavy drinking, and smoking, are bad for your heart. Some ways to help manage your stress include exercise, listening to music, focusing on something calm or peaceful, and meditating.

Make sure that you get enough sleep.
If you don’t get enough sleep, you raise your risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Those three things can raise your risk for heart disease. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. If you have frequent sleep problems, contact your healthcare provider.  This interferes with your ability to get a good rest and can raise your risk of heart disease.