Towards a Healthy Lifestyle

Toward a Healthy Lifestyle

Much of the current epidemic in coronary heart disease is due to environmental and behavioral factors. A healthy lifestyle may significantly lessen the risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack.

There are many factors which appear to be important.

Exercise has been shown in many studies to reduce the chance of heart attack and stroke as well as help control high blood pressure.
Avoiding obesity which may be associated with diabetes and high blood pressure also has significant benefits.
Avoidance of smoking is critical to lowering ones risk of heart attack and stroke. There is not a "safe level" of tobacco use. In fact, "secondhand smoke" increases the risk of heart attack.
A low fat, low cholesterol diet also helps lower the chance of heart attack or stroke. There are certain fats which may also lower the risk of heart attack and stroke (for instance olive oils).
While there is some disagreement, it does appear that small amounts of wine or alcohol may lower the chance of coronary heart disease.

While environmental stress may also be a risk for coronary heart disease it appears that exercise may well be a significant counter balancing force when significant stress is present. While many of the factors leading to a healthy lifestyle appear to require avoidance of many of the foods that many Americans find appetizing, it is true that following a healthy lifestyle will significantly improve one's chances of avoiding a heart attack or stroke.