Six key ways to significantly reduce your chances of having a heart attack

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Heart attacks are one of the most serious causes of death in the world. They are sudden and extremely dangerous, even for those who survive, as they can lead to lifelong problems.

Eating healthy and being more active are the most well-known ways to keep your health in check, but there are a number of other things you should keep an eye on to reduce your risk of a heart attack.

Quit smoking

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attack, as well as countless other deadly problems such as cancer and heart disease. Cigarettes contain tar and release carbon monoxide, which damages the lungs and increases the risk of heart and lung disease.

Blood pressure monitoring

Constant control, especially with age. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, greatly increases the chances of a heart attack and is a serious “bell”. About 50 percent of heart attacks are related to high blood pressure.

This means that the heart has to work too hard to pump blood around the body because the arteries lose their elasticity and become stiff, narrow, and eventually become clogged with fat plaques.

Most people develop high blood pressure due to poor diet and inactivity.

Watch your cholesterol

High cholesterol can lead to clogged arteries, which is one of the the main causes of a heart attack. A predisposition to this condition can be inherited, but is often the result of an unhealthy lifestyle

Keep triglycerides low

Triglycerides are often mistaken for cholesterol, but this is not entirely true. When you eat, the body turns any calories it doesn't need to use right away into triglycerides. They are stored in fat cells for later use, released for energy between meals.

High levels of triglycerides can contribute to hardening of the arteries and thickening of their walls, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke and the development of heart disease.

Control your blood sugar

High blood sugar is very dangerous. It “eats away” all organs, and the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart suffer the most. People with diabetes die from heart attacks, strokes, lose their sight and lose their legs.

Know your family history

Some people are more prone to heart attacks than others , and a warning sign can be found in family history. If your father or brother was under 55 when they had a heart attack, or if your mother or sister had a heart attack before the age of 65, you are at risk.