Some Tips to Avoid Heart Disease

The human heart's job is to pump nutrient-rich blood throughout your body. If you smoke, take d rugs, or drink alcohol excessively, you are giving your heart extra work. how do you feel when you have too much work to do? Your heart cannot handle too much extra work over a long period of time. Over time, the health of your heart will suffer.

Scientists have proven that smoking doubles your risk of having a herat attack and doubles, triples or quadruples your risk of sudden cardiac eath. each year, over 300,000 Americans die of smoking-related heart disease. There is hope! Former smokers can completely lower their risk of sudden cardiac death within ten years of quitting.

Because they are foreign substances, any drug can affect your heart. With illegal drugs (cocaine, heroin, marijuana, amphetamines, etc.) YOU have to control the effect on your heart. Even a small amount of a drug can be potentially fatal.

While Drinking alcohol in moderation may not pose a risk, drinking excesively does pose a serious hazard to your heart. While alcohol flows in your blood stream, the nutrient-rich blood is less able to nourish the heart. If the alcohol content is excessive, your heart will be in danger.



Everyday heart health tips
Follow some of these tips in your everyday routine to be more active:

• Take the stairs instead of an elevator at school or the mall.
• Park your car at the far end of the parking lot. The short walk to and from the store or school helps your heart.
• If you can, spend a few minutes of your lunch break taking a stroll around the campus grounds, it should help you to stay awak after lunc.
• Think of housework as an extra chance to exercise. Vacuuming briskly can be real workout.
• If you have a dog, think of the dog as an exercise machine with fur. A brisk walk with the dog is good for both of your hearts.

Heart Diet Tips
To control the amount andk ind of fat, saturated fatty acids, and dietary cholesterol you eat:

• Eat no more than 6oz (cooked) per day of lean meat, fish, and skinless poultry.
• Use cooking methods that requrie little or no fat: boil, broil, bake, roast, poach, steam, saute, stir-fry, or microwave.
• Choose skim or 1% fat milk and nonfat or lowfat yogurt and cheeses
• Eat 5 or more servings of fruits or vegetables per day
• Eat 6 or more servings of breads, cereals or grains per day, making 3 of the servings whole grai

Reference: American Heart Association