Stop smoking
If you smoke, you’re probably aware of the effects of smoking on your health, but did you know that smoking is a factor that contributes to the buildup of plaque in your arteries, that it increases the risk of developing blood clots and it raises your blood pressure which makes your heart work harder? Therefore, smoking increases the risk of having a heart disease. Encouraging fact: less than one year after quitting, the risks of dying from a heart disease reduce by 50 %!
Increase your intake of vegetables and fruits
According to the Heart disease and Stroke Foundation, 70 % of Canadian children aged four to eight and 56,2 % of Canadian adults aged 12 and over do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. The minimum amount of servings recommended daily is five in order for the body to absorb the necessary amount of phytochemical substances present in fruits and vegetables that protect against a variety of diseases, including heart disease.
Keep your gums healthy
According to a Finnish study, men who suffered a heart attack showed a higher incidence of bacterial infection. Another study, done with a 100 people, shows that the dental health of people who have had a heart attack was somewhat worse than the people who had not. Even though we don’t yet understand why these two things are related, it’s still important to practice good dental hygiene in order to keep your mouth and gums healthy and to avoid developing heart problems.
Prevention is everything
One of the most important things to prevent heart disease is to keep an eye out for the signals your body is sending you, to have regular check-ups and to be aware of your family history that may affect your risks. We always say: better safe than sorry!
