How to Prevent a Heart Attack

A heart attack happens when blood flow to your heart is blocked. It’s a medical emergency that necessitates immediate care, and it's something that no one wants to experience.

While some risk factors of heart attack — like age and genetics — are beyond your control, there’s still plenty you can do to protect your health and lower your risk of heart attack. 

Our team at AssociatesMD specializes in cardiology care, and we’re here to help you find the right lifestyle changes and medical strategies to help you prevent a heart attack. 

Whether you want to prevent heart disease or you’ve already been diagnosed and you want to lower your chances of a heart attack, taking proactive steps can make all the difference.

Preventing heart disease to lower your risk of heart attack

Heart disease is the most common cause of a heart attack — and preventing a heart attack starts with proactively managing the risk factors that contribute to heart disease. 

The most common culprits include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Here’s how you can take control of your heart health:

Eat a heart-healthy diet

The food you eat directly impacts your heart. To keep your heart stronger and healthier, eat a diet containing plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins to help keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check. 

Avoid trans fats, excessive salt, and processed foods because they can contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries.

Exercise regularly

Engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week is key to long-term heart health. Try activities like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming to strengthen your heart and improve circulation.

Quit smoking

Smoking damages your blood vessels and significantly increases your risk of both heart disease and heart attacks. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your heart.

Manage stress

Chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure and inflammation, which may increase your risk of heart attack. Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can help keep stress levels in check.

Monitor your health

Even with all the right lifestyle habits, regular check-ups with our team are important. Your annual wellness visit is an opportunity to track your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels so we can catch any potential issues early.

Lowering your risk if you already have heart disease

If you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease or you’ve already had a heart attack, it’s not too late to improve your heart health. Making lifestyle changes and following our treatment plan can help prevent future heart attacks and other complications.

Take your medications as prescribed

If you’ve been prescribed medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other heart-related conditions, take them as directed. Medications like statins, beta-blockers, and aspirin can help protect your heart.

Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes

High blood sugar levels damage your blood vessels over time, increasing your risk of heart disease. We can work with you to keep your diabetes well-managed through a combination of diet, medication, and lifestyle changes.

Limit alcohol intake

Excessive alcohol consumption can raise your blood pressure and contribute to heart disease. If you drink, do so only in moderation, which equates to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

Consider cardiac rehabilitation

If you’ve had a heart attack, we may recommend a supervised cardiac rehab program to help you strengthen your heart through exercise, nutrition guidance, and medical support.

Taking control of your heart health can prevent a heart attack and improve your overall well-being, regardless of medical history. Talk to us about personalized strategies to keep your heart strong and healthy with an appointment at AssociatesMD in Plantation, Pembroke Pines, Davie, Weston, Margate, Dania Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Call us at 844-954-3627 or send us a message online to get started.