How to prevent a heart attack

No one can say for sure how a heart attack can be addressed prior to its occurrence, but doctors agree that prevention is the key. Prevention should come through a healthy diet and fitness plan.

Follow a heart-healthy diet

A person's health in the future depends on the diet she or he is having in the present. DASH or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension is a plan that most doctors recommend. This specific diet has lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and low fat dairy and is low in fat, salt and cholesterol. “Bad fats”, such as saturated and Trans fats should be limited or avoided. “Good fats” should be included as much as possible. Some types of fish, tuna, herring, mackerel and salmon for example, contain polyunsaturated fats like omega-3 fatty acids, but a person should try to avoid fried and spicy fish. Intake of alcohol can help heat functions by increasing HDL (High density lipo protein). Of course, the intake of alcohol should be in minimal quantities because a higher intake leads to high blood pressure-alcoholic cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease and heart failure.

Lead a healthy lifestyle

A person should take a good look at her or his lifestyle and make out if there is anything that needs to be done. Quitting smoking cigarettes and tobacco products is the first thing a person should do. Smoking causes heart diseases that lead to heart attack. This includes passive smoking as well. A vast number of chemicals are contained inside the tobacco smoke and those chemicals are believed to make a person's arteries vulnerable to atherosclerosis (narrowing). Women over the age of 35 should stop using birth pills because it promotes better heart health. This should be done if the physician advises to do so.

Get active

It is important that people do any sort of physical activity on a regular basis because it reduces the development of heart diseases. It decreases the fat in the body and regulates blood circulation and blood pressure as well. The minimum is 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity per week. This minimum should be enough to offer the heart the needed benefits. Housekeeping, walking the dog and even taking the stairs is considered to be physical activities, as well as gardening. Long walks during the weekend are an excellent idea.

Fish oil for heart health

One pill of fish oil per day can significantly help a person's diet plan. Nowadays the heart-health conscious individuals are using fish oil more and more.