How can you live a longer, healthier life? These few key factors can help you lower your risk of heart attack if you have never had one. They are part of an overall healthy lifestyle for adults.

Know your risk

If you’re between 40 and 75 years old and have never had a heart attack or stroke, use CalculatorTM by American Heart association to estimate your risk of having a cardiovascular event in the next 10 years.

Certain factors such as smoking, kidney disease or a family history of early heart disease can increase your risk for heart disease. Knowing your risk factors can help you and your doctor to decide on the best treatment plan for you. Many risk factors can be improved with simple lifestyle modifications.

Eat a healthy diet

Centre you’re eating plan around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, plant-based proteins, lean animal proteins and fish. You need to make smart choices like limiting processed meats, refined carbohydrates, and sweetened drinks in your diet. Use the nutrition facts label on the packaged foods items to cut back on sodium, added sugars and saturated fats, and avoid trans-fat.

Be physically active

Move more – it’s one of the best ways to stay active, healthy and prevent disease. According to American heart association adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.

Watch your weight

You need to lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Start by portion control and moving more. You can check your body mass index (BMI) and take help from a professional to manage your weight.

Manage conditions

If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol (hyperlipidaemia), high blood sugar (diabetes) or other conditions that put you at greater risk, it’s very important to work with your doctor and make lifestyle changes. Most of these conditions can be prevented or managed by eating better, getting active, losing weight and quitting tobacco.

Live tobacco free

There’s no such thing as a safe tobacco product. If quitting smoking or tobacco is a challenge for you, ask your doctor for help to kick the habit using proven methods. Don’t try to swap one tobacco source for another.