Here are simple ways to take control Heart Disease

In the US, heart disease is a leading cause of death for both men and women. This month, join millions nationwide to lower your risk for heart disease or manage a heart condition.

Here are simple ways to take control:

Keep a healthy diet. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Avoid high-fat foods, such as cold cuts, whole eggs, regular butter or margarine and prepared salad dressing.
Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy foods, such as fat-free cheese, plain low-fat yogurt, and skim or 1% milk.

Limit your salt intake. Many frozen and canned foods are high in sodium (salt). Check food labels on these items for sodium contents.

Limit alcohol intake. Women should have no more than one drink per day. Men should have no more than two drinks per day.

Take steps to lower stress. Try taking a walk or listening to music.

If you are overweight, lose weight sensibly. Talk with your doctor about your weight and diet before starting a weight-loss program.

Exercise regularly. Try to exercise five days a week or more. Share your exercise plan with your doctor before starting a fitness program.

If you smoke, get help to quit!

If you live in New York State, you can call the New York State Smokers' Quitline at 1-866-NY-QUITS
(1-866-697-8487). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, call the NY Relay Service at 711 (voice or TTY). If you live outside New York State, you can call the National Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).

Know Your Heart-Healthy Numbers!
At each doctor's visit, ask your doctor to check your:
Height, weight and body mass index (BMI). BMI is a number that tells you if your weight is healthy.
Blood pressure. A blood pressure reading shows if there is strain on your heart or artery walls. If your numbers are above normal (higher than 120/80 for adults), talk with your doctor about lifestyle changes and medicine that may help lower them.
Cholesterol levels. Follow your doctor's advice if you need to lower your cholesterol.
Take time to schedule and keep appointments with your doctor to talk about your risk factors and concerns. If your doctor prescribes medicine, remember to take it exactly as ordered.