• Eating a heart-healthy diet. Modern research has consistently supported the idea that health is largely determined by what people choose to eat. While certain vitamins and minerals have been shown to be helpful to heart health, fats and oils such as saturated fat, trans fats and tropical oils (palm and coconut oil) have been shown to be particularly harmful because they can speed up the development of coronary artery disease (CAD), atherosclerosis and obesity. 

  • Improving your cholesterol ratio. A person’s total cholesterol ratio (which includes LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides) should be no more than 200 milligrams per deciliter and no more than five times the HDL level. Key strategies for reducing levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides are to eat a heart-healthy diet and to exercise regularly. If these strategies do not reduce total cholesterol levels, a physician may prescribe cholesterol-reducing drugs. Strategies for increasing levels of HDL cholesterol include eating monounsaturated fats in moderation, decreasing the amount of saturated fat, limiting alcohol use and starting an exercise program. 

  • Controlling homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is an amino acid produced as a normal byproduct of meat metabolism. High homocysteine levels have been linked to damage of the arteries, which may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular problems. Researchers are currently trying to determine whether high homocysteine levels are an actual cause of those conditions, or are simply associated with them for some other reason. The American Heart Association recommends testing homocysteine blood levels in patients with known risk factors for heart disease (e.g., a family history of heart disease). Homocysteine can be kept at moderate, healthy levels if the body has adequate levels of three important B-vitamins: vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folic acid (the synthetic and more easily absorbed version of folate). Therefore people are encouraged to make sure they get enough B-vitamins every day. 

  • Managing your stress. Stress can lead to overeating, smoking, high blood pressure (hypertension) and a failure to exercise. In addition, chronic stress may be a direct contributor to poor heart health because it produces increases in blood pressure that could become permanent. 

  • Quitting smoking (or not starting to smoke). Tobacco smoking is a major cause of coronary artery disease and cardiac arrest. A 1990 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows heart disease as the leading smoking-related cause of death in the United States among men and women. The CDC also suggests that the average smoker dies nearly seven years before a nonsmoker. 

  • Maintaining a regular program of exercise. Exercise can be an excellent tool in both the prevention of heart disease and improving quality of life for heart patients. Physically, it can slow or even reverse the process of atherosclerosis, as well as lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels. Emotionally, it can reduce levels of stress and depression. The increased risk from not exercising has been compared to the risk from smoking a pack of cigarettes per day. 

  • Controlling diabetes. Persons with diabetes are more likely to develop heart-related diseases. Preventative care and a balanced diet are crucial to the overall health and heart function of diabetic patients.

  • Controlling high blood pressure (hypertension). Individuals with high blood pressure are at greater risk of cardiovascular problems resulting from CAD. This is because a buildup of plaque in the arteries can lead to an even greater increase in blood pressure in the damaged areas of those arteries. Hypertension can be controlled through blood pressure medications, self-monitoring, eating a heart-healthy, low-salt diet and engaging in regular exercise. People are also encouraged to have regular check-ups with their physician. 

  • Controlling weight. obesity and being overweight are major risk factors for a host of serious health conditions, including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack and stroke. Some weight control methods include limiting fat in a patient’s diet, increase activity levels, counseling, medication and surgical interventions. 

  • Controlling chronic depression. Depression has been linked with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease and having a heart attack.