Prevention Of Heart Disease Specialist

What lifestyle changes can prevent heart disease?

A person can make a wide variety of changes to his or her lifestyle to decrease or prevent his or her chances of developing cardiovascular disease. First, and perhaps essentially, if a person smokes cigarettes or uses tobacco, they should cut down and stop. Giving up can be challenging, but Dr. Jayasundera can help. Second, people who want to lower their chances of developing heart disease should follow a healthy and balanced diet, with plenty of vegetables and lean proteins. It is also a good idea to limit alcohol intake as there are links between drinking too much and high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, stroke, cancer and other diseases. Adults should also aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day. Not only will regular exercise increase cardiovascular health and heart strength, but taking more exercise can also help to reduce stress levels, another indicator of potential heart disease. Small and sustainable changes to diet and exercise habits will help to lower a person’s body weight, control their cholesterol levels, and improve his or her overall health, all of which are proven to reduce a person’s likelihood of developing heart disease.

Are there healthy targets?

Doctors perform a variety of regular screenings to keep an eye on otherwise symptomless indicators of cardiovascular health. The numbers listed below are the average optimal levels for these screenings.

• Blood pressure should be less than 120/80 mmHg.
• Body Mass Index between 18.5 and 25.
• Cholesterol should be less than 180mg/dL to be considered optimal.
• Fasting glucose should be less than 100mg/dL.
• Waist circumference should be 35 inches or less for women or 40 inches or less for men.

If I already have heart disease can I stop it from getting worse?

Cardiovascular diseases can be treated and in some cases cured. Once cardiovascular disease is diagnosed, quick and efficient treatment is vital to success. The goal of treatment is to reduce the condition, manage and decrease associated symptoms, and offer a cure when available. The patient will also be instructed to make behavior changes to diet, exercise and stress management techniques as described above. These lifestyle adjustments are the key to managing heart disease and physicians can prescribe medications and surgery when required.

In some cases, lifestyle changes may not be enough, and the doctor may prescribe medications to help lower cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots, reduce the heart’s workload and decrease blood pressure levels, all key factors in cardiovascular disease.