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Some of the risk factors
are:
Cigarette
smoking: smoking should be totally stopped.
High
cholesterol: the LDL titer (the dangerous cholesterol-fraction)
should not exceed 130 mg/dl, and HDL (the “good”
fraction) should be higher than 40 mg/dl.
Hypertension
: recommended blood pressure levels are lower than 140/90
Regular physical
exercise: should be done on a regular basis and last from 30-60
minutes, three to four times a week, and include swimming, bicycle
riding and walking.
Being
overweight: weight should be reduced (body mass index should
be 18.5-24,9 kg/m2) with a waist measurement of 88 cm/35 inches for
women and 102cm/40 inches for men.
Diabetes:
glycemia should be appropriately controlled.
Stress:
make adjustments to change lifestyle if your current one is
stressful.
Excess alcohol:
stay away from hard liquor. At most: one glass of wine (possibly red
wine) per meal.
Other heart attack risk
factors that cannot be controlled are:
Age: men
after age 45, and women after 55 (or after menopause). Most
heart attacks occur after 65.
Sex: men
run a higher risk.
Heredity.
All prescribed medications
for heart disease should be taken as directed. This is key to
avoiding a reoccurrence of a heart attack. Your lifestyle
should be as stress-free as possible.
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