Improving the Odds: 10 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Failure

For both men and women, heart disease is the leading cause of death annually in the US. In 2022, about 702,880 Americans died from heart disease. About 805,000 heart attacks are reported each year.  

In most cases, lifestyle changes can ultimately lower the risk of developing heart failure. So why don’t more Americans make these changes? It may seem overwhelming to alter your lifestyle with too many changes at once. But by starting to implement the following life-altering changes one at a time, the risk of developing a heart-related medical issue can drastically decline. 

Smoking cessation is one of the best things you can do for your heart. If you don’t smoke, you should avoid secondhand smoke as well. The chemicals in tobacco are damaging to your blood vessels and your heart. Tobacco reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, so it increases blood pressure by making the heart work harder to supply oxygen.

For both American adults and children, obesity is very high. Supplements, detox, and other fad diets do not provide long-term results. Proper nutrition and caloric intake, along with a decrease in sedentary lifestyle habits, are the best ways to keep a healthy weight. Obesity can lead to other medical conditions like high blood pressure and insulin resistance.

Studies show that men who maintained a waistline of 37 inches or less had a 12% reduction in heart disease risk.  The same is applied to women who maintain a waist circumference of fewer than 35 inches.  

Regular everyday exercise significantly reduces the risk of heart disease. It helps to control weight and decreases the chance of developing other diseases that place a strain on the heart.

Doctors prefer that your blood pressure reading be maintained at less than 120/80. High blood pressure is a huge risk for stroke and other ailments of your cardiovascular system. Try to reduce the salt in your diet to help keep your blood pressure down. 

Studies show that people who have a diet rich in fruit, veggies, nuts, whole grains, legumes, reduced-fat dairy, and fish have an 18 percent reduction in heart failure risk than those who don't. 

The increased risk of heart attack, depression, and other medical ailments goes up in those who don't get enough sleep. Adults need at least 7 hours of sleep nightly.  

Some studies have seen a link between heart disease and stress. Stress increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Stressed people may smoke, drink, or overeat to cope. This is hazardous to your health. 

If your arteries have fat lodged in them, your heart health is at risk. It could trigger a stroke or a heart attack  The reduction in consumption of trans fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol helps to keep cholesterol levels down. Exercise helps as well. 

Several health problems can damage the heart and the blood vessels. If you do not go for regular medical checkups, you wouldn’t know about them. Regular screenings will tell you what body function readings are off, and let you know if there are lifestyle changes that you need to make.