We recently spoke to cardiologist and vascular specialist Dr. Christian Heesch about easy steps we all can take to reduce our individual risk for heart attack and stroke. Here is what he had to say:
“Before talking about positive steps to keep us healthy, we need to ensure that we are not doing anything negative to ourselves. Smoking, recreational drug use, and excess psychosocial stress are all important factors that put us at long-term risk of developing cardiovascular conditions. If you smoke, stop. If you use drugs, stop immediately and ask for help. If you believe you have too much stress in your life, see what you can do to reduce this problem. For many of us, making exercise a part of our daily routine can be an important part of any stress-reduction strategy.”
“Food is just as important”, Dr. Christian Heesch continued. “The typical American diet was not designed with heart health in mind. Fruits and vegetable should be part of any meal. Cut down on fats, meats, and sweets. Eat two to three servings of fish every week. Special considerations apply to pregnant women, and they should talk to their physicians about dietary requirements in pregnancy.”
“Lastly”, Dr. Christian Heesch added, “if you have any chronic existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, make sure they are under optimal control. Your own doctor is really the best person to tell you what you may have to do to improve your personal risk profile, taking into account your medical history and background. And, once you make positive changes, try to stick to them for the long term.”
Author: Robert Strong