Knowing the risk is the beginning of preventing heart diseases. 9 out of 10 Canadians have a risk factor for heart diseases and stroke. Nearly 80% of premature heart conditions and stroke can be prevented by having healthy habits and lifestyles. Some of these are being active, not smoking, and having a proper diet.
Many lifestyle risk factors can be controlled. You can start lowering your risk for heart diseases if you know them:
- Poor diet
- Smoking
- Stress
- Too much drug and alcohol intake
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Unhealthy weight
Here are more risk factors you need to watch out for:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Atrial fibrillation
- Vascular cognitive disorder
- High cholesterol
- Gender (women are more at risk for heart diseases after menopause)
- Age (the older the person is, the higher the risk
- Family and medical history
- Heritage (South Asian, African, First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people
- Circumstances (accessibility to clean drinking water, healthy food, social and health services)
How to Prevent Heart Diseases
Having a healthy diet means you need to eat a lot of vegetables. It is best to skip processed foods and cook meals at home. Following these can help you better protect your body. Moreover, you stay active by moving more. For instance, you can play a sport, clean, or walk. There are many ways to be active daily. You can also try reducing your stress by identifying what causes it. Getting the help of a professional can help you effectively manage it.
