Resolutions for life

If you could gain a decade or more of healthy years to your life, wouldn’t you grab the chance? “It’s the simple things that can make the biggest difference,” says Heart and Stroke Foundation lecturer Dr. Clyde Yancy, adding that up to 80 percent of premature heart disease is preventable. His prescription for more quality years of life: follow these seven simple steps to embrace your best health potential.

Get active

Physical activity can be a lifesaver – literally. Inactivity can shave almost four years off a person’s expected lifespan. People who are physically inactive are twice as likely to be at risk for heart disease or stroke.

Know and control cholesterol levels

Almost 40 percent of Canadian adults have high blood cholesterol. You can get your numbers on track by making healthy dietary changes, being active 30 to 60 minutes most days, achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight and becoming tobacco-free.

Follow a healthy diet

Healthy eating is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health, yet about half of Canadians don’t meet the healthy eating recommendations.

Know and control blood pressure

By knowing and controlling your blood pressure, you can cut your risk of stroke by up to 40 percent and heart attack by up to 25 percent.

Achieve and maintain a healthy weight

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for your heart health. Being obese can reduce your life span by almost four years.

Manage diabetes

By 2016, an estimated 2.4 million Canadians will live with diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of high blood pressure, narrowing of the arteries, coronary artery disease and stroke, particularly if your blood sugar levels are poorly controlled.

Be tobacco-free

More than 37,000 Canadians die prematurely each year due to tobacco use and almost 8,000 non-smokers die each year from exposure to second-hand smoke. As soon as you become tobacco-free, your risk of heart disease and stroke begins to decrease. After 15 years, your risk will be nearly that of a non-smoker.

“Healthy living is key to preventing heart disease and stroke,” says Bobbe Wood, president of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “The Foundation is committed to raising awareness about heart health and helping Canadians live longer, healthier lives.”

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Take a personalized Heart&Stroke Risk Assessment™ to find out how your age, family history and medical conditions affect your heart health. Visit www.heartandstroke.ca/risk

photo © Daniel Gilbey