Lifestyle and home remedies

Your doctor may suggest that you make lifestyle changes to keep your heart as healthy as possible.

Heart-healthy lifestyle changes include:

• Eat heart-healthy foods. Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit salt and saturated fats.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise daily and increase your physical activity.
• Quit smoking. If you smoke and can't quit on your own, talk to your doctor about strategies or programs to help you break a smoking habit.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of developing heart disease.
• Keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control. Make lifestyle changes and take medications as prescribed to correct high blood pressure (hypertension) or high cholesterol.
• Limit alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger.
• Maintain follow-up care. Take your medications as prescribed and have regular follow-up appointments with your doctor. Tell your doctor if your symptoms worsen.