Keep your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol
under control.
Don't smoke.
Consider drinking 1 to 2 glasses of alcohol or wine each
day. Moderate amounts of alcohol may reduce your risk of
cardiovascular problems. However, drinking larger amounts
does more harm than good.
Eat a low fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables and
low in animal fat.
Eat fish twice a week. Baked or grilled fish is better
than fried fish. Frying can destroy some of the benefits.
Exercise daily or several times a week. Walking is a
good form of exercise. Talk to your doctor before starting
an exercise routine.
Lose weight if you are overweight.
If you have one or more risk factors for heart disease,
talk to your doctor about possibly taking aspirin to help
prevent a heart attack. Aspirin therapy (dose 75 mg to 325
mg a day) or a drug called clopidogrel may be prescribed for
women at high risk for heart disease. Aspirin therapy is recommended
for women over age 65 to prevent heart attack and stroke as
long as blood pressure is controlled and the benefit is likely
to outweigh the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. Regular
use of aspirin is not recommended for healthy women under
age 65 to prevent heart attacks.
New guidelines no longer recommend hormone replacement therapy,
vitamins E or C, antioxidants, or folic acid to prevent heart
disease.
After a heart attack, you will need regular follow-up care
to reduce the risk of having a second heart attack. Often,
a cardiac rehabilitation program is recommended to help you
gradually return to a normal lifestyle. Always follow the
exercise, diet, and medication plan prescribed by your doctor.
