Heart disease can be prevented without medication. Sometimes it is unpreventable, but simple prevention techniques can be used to lessen your chances for this type of condition. Four of the more common techniques are maintaining a healthy weight, regular health screenings, getting active and also dieting. By taking these four simple actions you can help the silent killer.

If you are an adult and you put on weight it is more likely to be fat than muscle. Many children that gain weight are putting on muscle because it is part of their natural growing process. Putting on weight as an adult is particularly dangerous because it can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or all three. All of these conditions are directly related to heart disease and will heighten your chances of having it. The most common way to see if you have a healthy weight is through the body mass index, or BMI. The BMI takes your height and weight into consideration and decides if you have a healthy percentage of body fat. By knowing your percentage of body fat you can determine if you are at risk for problems.

Regular health screenings can help to prevent this because when you see a physician your blood pressure and cholesterol levels will be tested. If your blood pressure or cholesterol levels are too high you may be at risk for many conditions. It is said that the average adult should have their cholesterol levels tested every five years and have their blood pressure tested every two. Blood pressure testing begins during childhood, but should be obtained on a regular basis in adulthood. Having regular health screenings will notify you if your tests are irregular therefore you can seek the attention needed.

Being active plays a key part in preventing the silent killer. When a person is active it means they have less chance of becoming obese or having detrimental health issues such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It is recommended that you have 30 to 60 minutes a day of vigorous exercise on most days of the week. However, if that is not possible as much physical activity as you can commit to is recommended. It is also important to remember that physical activity does not always mean exercising. Performing simple tasks such as walking the dog, taking the stairs and gardening are all considered being active.

Dieting is another key component of preventing disease. Eating a proper diet will directly reduce your chances of this condition. When you eat a more conscious diet you can avoid having health conditions such as high cholesterol. A heart healthy diet consists of eating foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt. Just by making adjustment to your daily food intake you can prevent problems.

All of these are effective and proven methods. It is important to remember that other factors can contribute as well and just because you take these preventative methods you could still be at risk. By maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular health screenings, being active, and dieting you can lessen your risk tremendously. Also remember that these are just a few of the ways to prevent this condition.

Author Bio: Christine Crotts really enjoys the holidays, the family gathered around the dining table with a feast in front of them. Christine has written a site containing reviews on red table runner, as well as gold table runner.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: heart disease,regular health screenings,blood pressure,health screenings,prevent heart disease