WHAT NOT TO DO FOR YOUR HEART'S HEALTH

When it comes to the heart's health, there are some things you can't control - lime getting older, or having a parent with heart disease. There are many more things you can do to lower the chances of sabotaging your ticker. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure in this instance. To help your heart keep on keeping on, here are 10 things NOT to do:

1. KEEP SMOKING. A major cause of heart disease, smoking raises blood pressure, causes blood clots, and makes it harder to exercise. It's the number one preventable cause of premature death in the U.S.

2. IGNORE THAT CHEST PAIN. When your heart literally aches and you don't know why, it's time to get it checked out. If you have chest pains while exercising, that's a red flag. If it happens after a heavy meal, it's more likely to be yoiur stomach causing trouble. Regardless of what you're feeling or when, even a doctor can't tell if you're in real trouble over the phone. So you have to seek medical attention in person to get a definitive answer for chest pain.

3. JUST ACCEPT THAT IT'S IN YOUR GENES. Having a family history of heart disease is a strong risk factor for predicting your own chances of heart trouble. Having a parent who has had an early heart attack doubles the risk for men having one; in women the risk goes up by about 70%. You can still beat the odds. For example, lowering your LDL reduces your risk by 50%. But you can only be proactive if you actually know whether heart disease or stroke runs in your family. Take time to find out your family's health history.

4. SKIP YOUR CHECKUP. When you don't get checked out regularly by a doctor, you might not realize if you have some of the silent heart risk factors that are harder to detect. Some of the most common, symptom-free cardiovascular issues are also some of the most easily treated.

5. BE A COUCH POTATO. Exercise helps lower blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, encourages weight loss, benefits blood vessel function, and cuts stress, among other things. It's never too late to make an impact with exercise. Just be sure to talk to a doctor before you start a new fitness regimen.

6. STOP TAKING YOUR MEDICATIONS. If you stop taking your heart medications, you may not feel better or worse afterward. But you could still be heading for a cardiac catastrophe.

7. FORGET YOUR GROWING WAISTLINE. If your belt size is slowly getting bigger, that's something to worry about. Excess fat tissue in the midsection could mean metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of risk factors that can lead to heart disease, stroke, or diabetes, through hardening of the arteries, insulin resistance, and inflammation.

8. NEVER MIND WHEN YOUR HEART FLUTTERS. A fluttering feeling in your heart that causes chest discomfort, shortness of breath, the feeling you could faint, or actual fainting could be a sign of heart arrhythmia. That's an electrical problem with your heart, causing it to beat either too fast, too slow, or just irregularly. If it happens frequently or is associated with other symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

9. LET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE RUN AMOK. A good way to wreck your heart is to leave your blood pressure elevated and untreated. Only about half of American adults with high blood pressure keep it under control.

10. EAT WITH ABANDON. Being overweight or obese contributes to heart disease, heart failure, and a shorter lifespan. No doubt, lasting weight loss is tough to accomplish. But the good news is, even moderate weight loss can improve heart risk factors. Aimfor a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Fats found in fish, olives and olive oil, nuts and avocados are heart-healthy and should be eaten in moderation.

source: http://www.webmd.com/