Did you know that more than 41 million women in America have heart disease? And that more women than men will die from it? In fact, it's the leading health problem that kills women (not cancer-a common myth).
But the good news is that just five lifestyle guidelines-moderate alcohol, a healthy diet, daily exercise, normal body weight, and not smoking-can cut your heart attack risk by a whopping 92%, according to a Swedish study of more than 24,000 women. Incorporating just the first two into your routine cuts your risk by more than half.
The 28 tips that follow are designed to help you get started. Try one a day for a month, and then stick with as many as you can for the long haul.
Continuing from Part 2 -
Tip 21: Take Vitamin D and Fish Oil
While research on multivitamins for preventing heart disease is mixed, science does stand behind these two supplements. "The only dietary supplement consistently shown in randomized clinical trials to work against cardiac death is fish oil," says Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, an assistant professor medicine at Harvard Medical School. Omega-3 fatty acids stabilize the heart's electrical system, lower blood pressure and triglycerides, slow arterial plaque buildup, and ease systemic inflammation. Fish oil was more successful than statins at preventing death in heart failure patients, according to a recent Italian study.
“D” boasts a wide range of health benefits, heart health among them. Recent studies show that too-little amounts can raise the risk of peripheral arterial disease by 80% and increase the odds of developing diabetes (a known heart disease risk factor).
Tip 22: Do Something Sweet for Your Partner
There’s a lot of proof that marriage buffers you against heart disease, but that may be true only if you’re happily coupled, says Agatston. One study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that spouses who reported a lot of negative encounters with their partner had blood pressure that was, on average, 5 points higher than that of single people. The emotional stress of a difficult marriage typically causes adrenaline levels in the blood to spike, raising blood pressure; it can also cause blood vessels to spasm.
To make sure your marriage doesn't go on autopilot, forge little ways to stay connected all the time. If you do something nice today (like paying an unexpected compliment or taking on a chore he normally handles) chances are he'll reciprocate soon, which helps bolster your bond.
If you do not have a partner, go out and pamper yourself. Book yourself a nice oil massage at a fancy spa place, go shopping - retail therapy works.
Tip 23: Indulge with Dark Chocolate
Cap off your day with a nibble of this healthy treat. Dark varieties contain flavonoids, antioxidants that make blood vessels more elastic. In one study, 18% of patients who ate it every day saw blood pressure dip. Have ½ ounce (at least 70% cocoa) daily.
Tip 24: Steer Clear of Secondhand Smoke
Got friends or coworkers who smoke socially? Stay away when they light up and your heart will thank you. The effects on the cardiovascular system due to passive smoking are, on average, 80 to 90% as great as those due to active smoking, research shows. Even brief (minutes or hours) exposure to secondhand smoke can have cardiovascular effects nearly as great as long-term active smoking.
Tip 25: Go Bananas!
To lower your blood pressure, don't just eat less sodium. You should also increase your potassium intake, as it speeds up the body's sodium excretion, say researchers at the Hypertension Institute of Nashville. Most Americans consume more sodium than potassium, but it should be the other way around. Some popular potassium-rich foods to help fix this: baked potatoes, tomato paste, lima beans, yogurt, cantaloupe, and bananas.
Tip 26: Reduce on Your Sugar Intake
People who consume more than 74 g of added fructose a day (that’s two to three sweetened soft drinks) are 87% more likely to have severely elevated blood pressure than those who get less, according to a recent study. Researchers believe excess fructose may reduce the production of nitric oxide, a gas that helps blood vessels relax and dilate.
To cut your intake, watch out for the worst offenders: drinks and baked goods. Drink seltzer in place of soda, or eat oatmeal with raisins and cinnamon instead of an oatmeal raisin cookie.
Tip 27: Don't Stop Laughing!
When researchers from the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore tested the "humor quotient" of 300 people, they found that those with heart disease were 40% less likely to laugh at the gaffes, mix-ups, and irritations of everyday life than those without cardiovascular problems.
"Laughter is no substitute for eating properly, exercising, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels with medication if need be," says study author Michael Miller, MD, director of the university's Center for Preventive Cardiology. "But enjoying a few laughs every day couldn't hurt, and our research suggests that it might help your heart health."
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