Preventing Heart Disease

Heart disease, including congestive heart failure, can be prevented or greatly reduced by making a few lifestyle changes. By making the time to exercise each day and eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you can take a huge step toward heart health.

• Stop smoking, or if you don't smoke, don't start.
• Get your cholesterol levels checked regularly, at least once a year. If you have high cholesterol, you'll need to have your cholesterol checked more regularly.
• Have a physical exam every year. During the exam, your doctor should check your blood pressure, blood cholesterol levels and more.
• Work with your doctor to build a safe exercise plan.
• If you are overweight, lose weight. Maintaining an ideal weight is key to preventing congestive heart failure.
• Eat a well-balanced diet. Your diet should feature a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. You should also limit saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium in your diet.
• Learn to manage stress and to control stress in your everyday life.