Five Habits That Help
Men Beat Heart Disease
A man may reduce his risk for heart
disease by revving up his healthy lifestyle
practices, according to new research. All
smart choices help, but following a specific
group of five may offer extra protection:
- Not smoking
- Eating a healthy diet
- Exercising daily
- Drinking alcohol in moderation
- Staying at a healthy weight
Compared with men who didn’t adjust their lifestyle, those who adopted just two healthy strategies during the course of the study also greatly lowered their heart risks.
All men — and women — can make lifestyle changes to improve heart health. Even men at high risk for heart disease can keep their hearts healthy by:
- Working out 30 minutes a day at a moderate to intense pace — swimming, walking and biking all count
- Limiting alcoholic drinks to two or fewer a day
- Steering clear of tobacco and secondhand smoke
- Avoiding saturated fat and trans fats and filling up instead on vegetables, fruits and fiber-filled foods like oatmeal
Regular doctor visits also can help men monitor their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. High levels of each increase heart disease risk. A man also can discuss his specific risk factors with his doctor and get advice on how to eliminate or lower them.
