Taking care of your heart health is essential to prevent a cardiovascular event, but how do you know you’re at risk for a heart attack? Let’s find out.
A heart attack happens every 40 seconds in the United States, with heart disease being the leading cause of death in the country. While there are various factors that can increase your risk for heart disease, you can still reduce your risk.
A heart attack is the result of blood flow to your heart being blocked, which usually happens due to plaque buildup. Some of the most common symptoms include chest pain, jaw pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and nausea or vomiting. However, about 20 percent of heart attacks are silent and happen with no symptoms.
Heart Attack Risk Factors
Over half of U.S. adults have a risk factor for heart disease. While you may change some of them (e.g.: diet, physical activity), others are beyond your control (e.g.: age, genetics). The most common risk factors include smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, lack of exercise, a diet high in saturated or trans fats, heavy alcohol use, race and ethnicity, increasing age, and a family history of heart disease.
There are also many recreational drugs that increase your risk of a heart attack even if you have no other risk factors. These drugs include heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD, and cannabis.
Preventing A Heart Attack
It is never too late to make healthy changes in your life and you may actually reverse heart disease with lifestyle changes. Start by evaluating your lifestyle habits, getting tests to evaluate your heart health, controlling health conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol, discussing medications with your healthcare provider, and regularly monitoring your health.
Some of the most important lifestyle changes you can make to prevent a heart attack include not smoking (tobacco or cannabis), following a heart-healthy diet, and being physically active. Other highly beneficial habits include avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, having a healthy weight, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Lifestyle changes can decrease your heart disease risk by almost 50% even if you have an increased genetic risk for heart disease.
Heart-Healthy Life
Even though heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., it doesn’t mean you are powerless. By taking control of your life and making healthy lifestyle changes, you’ll significantly lower your risk for heart attacks and heart disease.
If you want an additional boost to your heart health, consider taking supplements like HeartBeet Complete. Its ingredients promote circulation, blood pressure health, energy levels, and more. If you’re ready to enhance your health, then practice healthy habits on a daily basis and take HeartBeet Complete.
