Cardiac Health

Unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle are leading Americans to have heart complications at increasingly earlier ages. Once the first heart attack or stroke occurs, there is no turning back. Several steps can be taken to improve one's life and prevent a tragic outcome.

Watch Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Being overweight puts a greater strain on your heart, forcing it to work harder to pump blood around the body. A BMI of 25 or lower keeps you in the safe zone.

Know Your Cholesterol Numbers

Cholesterol is a wax-like substance in your arteries. A small amount is neccessary for proper function but too much blocks blood flow. Exercise and diet will maintain, or bring you back to safe levels.

Best: lower than 200
Borderline high: 200 - 239
High: 240 and higher

Quit Smoking (or Don't Start)

After quitting smoking for a year, your risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke is reduced by up to 50 percent. Smoking raises blood pressure and suffocates you. It's definitely not worth it.