Post by Jacqueline Virginia on Jul 20, 2015 8:05:33 GMT
You can do plenty to make your heart and blood vessels healthy, even if you’ve had a stroke. A healthy lifestyle plays a big part in decreasing your risk for disability and death from stroke and heart attack.
How can I make my lifestyle healthier?
Here are steps to take to be healthier and reduce your risk of stroke:
• Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.
• Improve your eating habits. Eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars.
• Be physically active.
• Take your medicine as directed.
• Get your blood pressure checked regularly and work with your healthcare provider to manage it if it’s high.
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Decrease your stress level.
• Seek emotional support when it’s needed.
• Have regular medical checkups. How do I stop smoking?
• Make a decision to quit — and commit to stick to it.
• Ask your healthcare provider for information, programs and medications that may help.
• Fight the urge to smoke by going to smoke-free facilities. Avoid staying around people who smoke.
• Keep busy doing things that make it hard to smoke, like working in the yard.
• Remind yourself that smoking causes many diseases, can harm others and is deadly.
• Ask your family and friends to support you. How do I change my eating habits?
• Ask your doctor, nurse or a licensed nutritionist or registered dietician for help.
• Be aware of your special needs, especially if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.
• Avoid foods like egg yolks, fatty meats, butter and cream, which are high in fat and cholesterol.
• Eat moderate amounts of food and cut down on saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and salt.
• Bake, broil, roast and boil foods instead of frying.
• Read nutrition labels on packaged meals. Many are very high in sodium.
• Limit alcohol to one drink a day for women; two drinks per day for men.
• Eat more fruit, vegetables, whole-grains, dried peas and beans, pasta, fish, poultry and lean meats.
What about physical activity?
• If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before you start.
• Start slowly and build up to at least 2 ½ hours of moderate physical activity (such as brisk walking) a week.
• Look for even small chances to be more active. Take the stairs instead of an elevator and park farther from your destination.
How can I make my lifestyle healthier?
Here are steps to take to be healthier and reduce your risk of stroke:
• Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.
• Improve your eating habits. Eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and added sugars.
• Be physically active.
• Take your medicine as directed.
• Get your blood pressure checked regularly and work with your healthcare provider to manage it if it’s high.
• Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Decrease your stress level.
• Seek emotional support when it’s needed.
• Have regular medical checkups. How do I stop smoking?
• Make a decision to quit — and commit to stick to it.
• Ask your healthcare provider for information, programs and medications that may help.
• Fight the urge to smoke by going to smoke-free facilities. Avoid staying around people who smoke.
• Keep busy doing things that make it hard to smoke, like working in the yard.
• Remind yourself that smoking causes many diseases, can harm others and is deadly.
• Ask your family and friends to support you. How do I change my eating habits?
• Ask your doctor, nurse or a licensed nutritionist or registered dietician for help.
• Be aware of your special needs, especially if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.
• Avoid foods like egg yolks, fatty meats, butter and cream, which are high in fat and cholesterol.
• Eat moderate amounts of food and cut down on saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and salt.
• Bake, broil, roast and boil foods instead of frying.
• Read nutrition labels on packaged meals. Many are very high in sodium.
• Limit alcohol to one drink a day for women; two drinks per day for men.
• Eat more fruit, vegetables, whole-grains, dried peas and beans, pasta, fish, poultry and lean meats.
What about physical activity?
• If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before you start.
• Start slowly and build up to at least 2 ½ hours of moderate physical activity (such as brisk walking) a week.
• Look for even small chances to be more active. Take the stairs instead of an elevator and park farther from your destination.
