How to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack

Over the past 60 years, research has led to huge progress against heart disease.

Among the biggest advances is the identification of risk factors that influence heart disease, according to a report from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

We now know that many risk factors can be controlled through healthy lifestyle choices. In fact, up to 80 percent of premature heart disease and stroke can be prevented, so here are a few healthy behaviors all of us can adopt to help prevent a heart attack:

• Eat a healthy diet. Aim for between five and 10 servings of vegetables and fruit each day, make at least half of your grains whole grains, and limit salt and sugar.

• Be physically active. Try to get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week – that’s less than half an hour a day.

• Be smoke free.

• Manage stress. Identify the source of your stress, talk to friends and family, and take time for yourself.

• Limit alcohol. Women should limit themselves to two drinks a day, to a weekly maximum of 10, and men to three drinks a day, to a weekly maximum of 15.

More information is available online at heartandstroke.ca.

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