Heart-strong living -
Explore condition risks here, or get the full picture on risks for heart disease and stroke. Read more. Preventing heart disease and stroke starts with healthy active lifestyles for kids and adults alike.
Donate now. Home Healthy living. Healthy living. Prevention is key Learn more about how to live a healthier lifestyle. Eat well Learn how heart-healthy choices can help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke, whether eating at home or dining out.
More on healthy eating Get moving Learn the benefits of healthy activity, and get tips on adding more exercise into your daily routine. Many people are concerned about resuming sexual relations after their heart failure diagnosis. Try not to feel embarrassed about talking about it with your physician or other members of your health care team.
If you have heart failure, being able to have sex depends on your symptoms and the severity of your heart failure.
People with mild heart failure can usually safely have sex. If you have more severe heart failure symptoms, sex should be avoided until your condition is stable and well managed.
Some people with heart failure may not be able to have intercourse but may be able to engage in other activities. You should have open and honest talks with your partner about sex. Good communication may lead to resuming sex earlier and enjoying it more.
Learn more about sex and heart disease. Our online community of patients, survivors and caregivers is here to keep you going no matter the obstacles. Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisors. See our editorial policies and staff.
Heart Failure. What is Heart Failure? Heart Failure Signs and Symptoms. Diagnosing Heart Failure. Treatment Options. Living with Heart Failure and Managing Advanced HF. Tools and Resources. Home Health Topics Heart Failure Treatment Options Lifestyle Changes.
Quitting smoking Nicotine from tobacco smoke increases heart rate and blood pressure for a short time. Being physically active Regular, moderate-intensity physical activity can help your heart get stronger. Managing stress You may be feeling anxious or nervous about your diagnosis and what might happen to you and your family.
Instead, try things like: Taking 15 to 20 minutes a day to sit quietly, breathe deeply and think of a peaceful scene. Trying a class in yoga or meditation.
Check with your health care professional first before undertaking a strenuous yoga class. Counting to 10 before answering or responding when you feel angry.
Joining a support network. Talk with your health care professional about how much liquid to drink every day. Avoiding or limiting alcohol If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Eating for a healthy heart Eat an overall healthy eating pattern that emphasizes a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry and fish, nuts and legumes, and non-tropical vegetable oils.
You are never too old or too young to begin taking care of your heart. True, the younger you begin making healthy choices, the longer you can reap the benefits.
Choosing healthier foods and exercising are two of the best ways to contribute to good heart health. There are additional things you can do to lower your risk for heart disease.
Things that put you at higher risk for heart disease include. The good news is that it is possible to decrease your risk by making changes in the way you live your life. Even if you have a family history of heart disease, the power of prevention is on your side.
You are in direct control over many things that can influence your heart health. Some people find it easy to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Others will do so only after being diagnosed with a symptom of heart disease, like high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Whatever your inspiration, the benefits of a healthy heart are worth the effort.
In fact, your entire body will be better for it. Good overall health can also protect you from type 2 diabetes, asthma, joint pain, and other chronic diseases and conditions. It can even reduce your risk for cancer. Additionally, a healthy lifestyle that includes eating healthy foods and getting regular exercise has been proven to boost your mood.
As you feel that you are gaining control, try adding another, then another. Balance is the key to eating healthy long-term. Your diet should consist mainly of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and lean proteins. Allowing yourself to eat something you crave from time to time is important.
So do not feel guilty about treating yourself as a reward for eating healthy. As you choose your vegetables, keep color in mind.
A colorful plate with plenty of red, orange, yellow, and dark-green vegetables provides the vitamins and minerals you need. Cut down on or even eliminate heavily processed foods. Heavily processed foods are the boxed and packaged foods, especially those that are ready to eat think crackers, potato chips, and mac and cheese, even drive-through foods.
Also, look for foods low in sodium salt. Remember, canned foods contain a lot of sodium. Drink water instead of soda and energy drinks. There is an incredible amount of sugar in soda and energy drinks. Drinking water in place of these can significantly impact your health for the better.
Aim for drinking at least 8, 8-ounce glasses of water each day. Having obesity or being or overweight is not healthy. The more weight you gain, the higher your body mass index BMI. Your BMI is a measure of your body fat based on your height and weight.
The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar levels. Having obesity also puts you at risk for breathing problems, gallbladder disease, liver disease, and even cancer. Making healthy food choices in combination with an exercise program is the best way to lose weight.
Even a small amount of weight loss can make a big difference in your health. The key is just to get up and move. Go for a walk. Take the stairs at work. Do some push-ups or sit-ups. The U.
Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity for adults each week plus 2 days of strength training each week.
Children should get at least an hour of activity every day. They should also get more intensive exercise at least 3 days a week that increases their heart rate.
Aerobic exercise has a direct effect on your heart. Your heart is a muscle and exercise strengthens it. A strong heart can more efficiently pump blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients to other parts of your body.
Exercise can lower your risk for developing plaque in your arteries. Plaque is a waxy substance that can clog arteries and reduce blood flow to your heart. If plaque builds up too much, it can even block the artery.
This is what causes a heart attack. Every adult should know their blood pressure and cholesterol level. Beginning at age 18, you should have your blood pressure checked at least every 3 to 5 years.
There are often no symptoms associated with high blood pressure. The best way to know for sure is to check. Young adults who are age 20 and older and who smoke or have a family history of heart disease should have regular cholesterol screenings.
Otherwise, women should begin having regular cholesterol checks when they are Men should begin them at age If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you should also be screened for diabetes. No new news here. Smoking is bad for you.
It causes cancer.
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