Heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women in the United States. The American Heart Association estimated that about 71 million Americans have some form of heart disease. The most common form of heart disease is hypertension, or high blood pressure, followed by coronary artery disease. These conditions contribute to the more than 7 million heart attacks that occur every year, and high blood pressure is also a leading contributor to the more than 5 million strokes that occur annually.

Considering the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, and the dangers of it, people are urged to do everything possible to promote heart health. Researchers recognize that heart health is a complicated issue. There are many factors that contribute to heart health, including uncontrollable factors such as heredity and controllable risk factors such as diet and exercise habits. While we cannot change our family histories, there are many healthy steps everyone can take to reduce their risk of suffering from debilitating heart disease. These healthy lifestyle choices are recommended by experts to help maximize cardiovascular health.

Besides taking active lifestyle steps to improve cardiovascular health, it is also important to know your family medical history, especially of cardiovascular disease and stroke. This information will be important to any physicians who are involved in your health care, and it can be used to help compile a coronary risk profile. The coronary risk profile is a tool developed by the American Heart Association that helps people calculate their long-term risk for suffering a heart attack. It takes into account both uncontrollable and controllable risk factors.

The controllable factors of maintaining heart health include diet and exercise. A balanced diet of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean protein is important for overall heart health. Diets that are high in unhealthy fats, such as saturated fats and trans fats, are linked to elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, both of which are closely associated with increased risk for heart attack. By contrast, a high-fiber, low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with higher levels of protective cholesterol and reduced risk for heart attack. Adequate intake of vitamins and minerals can also help the heart.

The importance of regular exercise for heart health also cannot be overstated. Exercise has wide-ranging and profound benefits. It has been shown to help lower blood pressure, reduce body fat and lower the risk of diabetes, which reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. In addition, exercise directly strengthens the heart muscle. New guidelines unveiled by government health agencies recommend that people get between 60 and 90 minutes of exercise on most days of the week.

Other controllable factors include certain lifestyle factors. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake each can improve the likelihood of heart health. Most people associate smoking with lung cancer, but it is also a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Excessive alcohol use can be damaging for everyone, and even moderate alcohol use may be a problem for people who have already had a heart attack. Conditions such as daily stress also affect the heart. Stress can contribute to higher blood pressure, which is damaging. Stress can also lead to other emotional problems, such as depression, which in turn, affect the cardiovascular system.

Medication and supplement use should be monitored for heart health. All medications should be taken as prescribed. Supplements are not regulated in the United States and may interact with medications or may not have consistent quality levels. Patients should discuss all medication or supplement use or changes with their physicians.