It's official; the number one cause of death in America is heart disease. Most Americans are at risk, and it's not just an age-related disease. At any age, the heart can be damaged by tobacco smoke, a poor diet, diabetes, lack of exercises and other factors.
The risk of heart disease is even higher for African Americans, according to the American Heart Association. High blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are the primary factors that lead to heart disease because of damage to the walls of the arteries.
But it can be prevented
Garry Jennings, Chief Medical Advisor at National Heart Foundation of Australia and Senior Director, Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute, recommends staying physically and mentally active, being aware of the things that damage your arteries and having regular heart checks as important steps to healthy aging.
Other suggestions include:
* Eating a healthy breakfast every morning.
* Taking helpful food supplements such as fish oil
* Exercising even for just 10 minutes per day
* Grilling or steaming your food versus frying it
* Eating more organic fruits and vegetables
* Eating sugar-free desserts or excluding junk food altogether
Heart disease, which includes stroke, aneurysm and other diseases of the arteries, can be prevented!
For more details on how to prevent heart disease, visit www.heart.org
