If you’re a guy, you’re not only more likely to nap with one hand on your junk, you’re more likely to die of a heart attack. Heart disease is the leading killer of men in the United States, according to the CDC, and even though you may think you’re not “that guy”, an estimated 790,000 Americans have a heart attack each year, and most of them are men.
There are numerous types of heart disease, but the kind we’re talking about here is the preventable kind — the one that can be wholly prevented with a healthy lifestyle and a careful eye on your health.
A short side bar: You probably already know this stuff. But American men continue to drop dead of heart attacks, so apparently something’s not getting through. Knowing how to prevent heart disease isn’t enough. You have to take action. So stop sitting on your ass and ordering take-out. Don’t wait for chest pains to wonder if you’ve been doing enough for long-term health. Stop bullshitting yourself — this isn’t just about your waistline; it’s about your life.
A risk factor is a characteristic that makes you more likely to develop a certain condition . In this case, heart disease. Some risk factors are beyond your control — your sex, for example. Others, however, are completely your doing.
The many risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:
Even if several of these risk factors apply to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doomed to suffer a heart attack. There is still time. Keep an eye out for early symptoms now, and consistently take steps to lessen the impact of these risks starting today.
Watching for the signs of heart disease involves more than thinking, “Oh my god, is this it?” every time you feel a chest pain. Sure, chest pain is the most recognizable sign that you’re suffering a heart attack, but there are many other (earlier) clues as well:
Don’t wait until you start experiencing signs of heart disease to take steps to prevent it. Obviously the goal here is to avoid it in the first place. Fortunately, that’s relatively easy, particularly if you start early.
Preventing heart disease is really a matter of living a healthy lifestyle and incorporating four basic tenets: eating right, exercising, combating the effects of stress, and monitoring your health with regular visits to the doctor. The first three of these activities will help you manage your weight, one of the biggest determinants of heart disease risk.
(We’re going to assume you don’t smoke here, as that’s a no-brainer. If you do, stop. That’s kindergarten-level prevention.)
Assuming you’re operating from a basic level of intelligence: You know what you should be eating. Given a choice between a pizza loaded with meats and beer or grilled salmon with vegetables and a glass of red wine, you know which is the heart-healthy option. Again, knowing isn’t enough — you have to take action.
Take consistent steps to:
Thirty minutes, five times a week. That’s the official exercise recommendation for preventing heart disease. If you find a form (or several forms) of physical activity that you actually enjoy, five 30-minute sessions is pretty damn easy — you could probably do even more. So, make finding enjoyable exercise goal number one.
Schedule your physical activity like you would any other engagement, and don’t flake out on yourself. Creating an exercise habit may seem daunting at first, but once you see and feel the results, it gets much easier.
Keeping stress at bay is a lifelong challenge for many men. But managing your stress can help you make dramatic improvements on your health. When you’re stressed, you’re more likely to make poor choices — you may drink more, smoke, and order take-out instead of cooking a healthier option.
Fortunately, if you’re already doing #2, exercising, you’re one step closer to managing stress. Add to that some meditation, or scheduled down-time, and you’re well on your way to living a little more carefree.
If stressful situations just seem to follow you wherever you go, it may be time to reevaluate some of the people and circumstances you keep around you. An asshole boss, dysfunctional relationship, or a job you just can’t stand — if you can’t change how these things make you feel, you may need to remove them from your life entirely. I mean, you’re doing it for your health.
Knowing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels check out is a great way to ensure your efforts on the above prevention measures are actually working. Visit your doctor once a year for a check-up and lab work. Identifying early risk factors here can ensure you stave off more serious problems down the road.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.