Eat a healthy diet.
Healthy food habits can help you reduce three risk factors for heart disease and stroke - high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess body weight. The American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle recommendations outlines a healthy diet. It's based on these dietary recommendations, which are easier to follow than you may think.
Use up at least as many calories as you take in.
Start by knowing how many calories you should be eating and drinking to maintain your weight. Don't eat more calories than you know you can burn up every day.
Exercise every day.
Balance the number of calories you eat with those you use up each day to maintain your best weight. Walk or do other physical activities for at least 30 minutes on most or all days. To lose weight, use up more calories than you eat every day. But before you start, check with your doctor.
Know your blood pressure.
High blood pressure may not have any symptoms. The only way you will know if your pressure is high is to have it checked. If it is high, you may be able to reduce it with diet and exercise, but if that doesn’t work, medication will likely be necessary. If you take medication, take it exactly as prescribed, not just when you feel like it.
Stop smoking.
There are many benefits to giving up tobacco. If you or a loved one need an incentive to quit, check out some of the toxicsubstances in cigarette smoke.