Every year, more than a million people in the United States alone suffer from a heart attack, a stroke or cardiac arrest. Studies have shown that half of those patients will die within an hour after the first symptoms start showing and on the way to the hospital. Heart diseases are the end result of many things. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, drinking and being overweight. If people do not make some lifestyle changes, the chances of this happening are much higher as the person gets older. So how can people prevent the occurrence of heart disease? It's best for the person to undergo a physical exam and discuss certain things with the doctor to be able to find a solution for each. If the individual smokes a lot, it is best to quit. Studies have shown that people who stop are able to decrease the risk almost immediately. It is hard to give up this habit so this should be done gradually to prevent the person from having withdrawal symptoms. Having high blood pressure is usually attributed to the kind of food being consumed by the person. It is best then to add some fruits, vegetables and whole grains to the diet to balance out the oils and fats usually found in meat. Exercise can also prevent heart diseases. The person doesn't have to enroll in a gym but take an occasional stroll or engage in a sport with friends. This will help the individual burn excess calories and keep the heart pumping. Alcohol as mentioned earlier may also contribute to heart disease. Studies have shown that having one or two drinks a day is safe while anything more than that is dangerous to one's health. Prevention is key against heart disease especially if there is a medical history of this in the family or because everyone has the same sort of diet or lifestyle risk. This means that everyone must sit down and consult with the family physician the changes that have to be made. Aside from making certain changes, here are two medications that can also be used to prevent heart disease. The first is aspirin. Studies have shown that this can make the blood thinner and lessen the size of blood clots especially during a heart attack. This is usually given to individuals who had an experience in the past. People who want are healthy and want to use aspirin must first consult with a doctor since this drug has not yet been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or ACE is one drug that can be used for a lot of things. This can stop the production of a chemical that makes the blood vessels narrow and help control high blood pressure for a damaged heart muscle. The doctor may recommend this to a patient after an attack or for those who's heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs. There are other drugs that can be used to prevent heart disease. The right prescription can only be given after a thorough checkup. Timing is everything when a stroke occurs. The longer that blood is cut off, the greater the chances of brain damage. It's best then to take preventive measures so this can be avoided.
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