5 Tips to Prevent Heart Disease from a Survivor!

Being #1 is something that I always pushed for. I enjoyed working hard to be the #1 in my class, #1 on my sports teams and in the work place. But I recently joined a #1 club that I didn’t expect. The heart disease club. The #1 killer of men and women worldwide.

How I got in the club was no fault of my own but has caused me to  live and learn about the disease and has taught me some valuable lessons about preventing it. No Mama should go through the drama I did with my pregnancy. It is the stuff of a made for TV movie complete with a near death experience. I suffered from an undiagnosed medical condition known as Preeclampsia. My untreated Preeclampsia contributed to me going into heart failure and suffering from Cardiomyopathy or heart disease.

A young expectant mother isn’t who you would think would be considered the sickest person in the entire hospital when she was finally admitted. But I was. That is the thing with heart disease in women. People don’t always expect it. But it is the leading killer of women. Women that look like me and you.

Here’s the good news. Heart disease is the most preventable cause of death in women. Most women can prevent heart disease by following a few simple tips.

Butt Out. Being sick is a real drag. So don’t take that first one. Smoking is the leading cause of heart attacks and other heart diseases. So if you do smoke it’s time to quit. If you don’t smoke don’t even think about taking that first puff.

Work Out. Moderate exercise helps prevent not only heart disease but many other diseases. Getting at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day can help prevent heart disease.  You don’t have to go to the gym to get it either. Simply walking can be a great way to help regulate blood pressure and to keep you healthy.

The D Word – Your Diet. A healthy diet is essential to heart disease prevention. Your diet should consist of plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains and dairy. Reducing the saturated and trans fats you eat is the most important step you can take to reduce your blood cholesterol and lower your risk of coronary artery disease.

Limit Alcohol. Abstaining from drinking is best but if you do indulge, stopping your alcohol intake after the first drink is a wise decision. Women should limit themselves to one alcoholic beverage per day.

Put YOU on the list. Taking care of everyone but you is to blame for many ailments. Remembering to put you on the list, doing the above tips, getting regular checkups, listening to your body and genuinely taking care of yourself is actually the #1 thing that you can do for yourself.