Heart disease is known as the silent killer in the U.S. It’s the number 1 cause of death among Americans and Hispanics run a higher risk due to the high levels of people with diabetes and high blood pressure. Most doctors recommend that people take a small dose of aspirin each day to help prevent a heart attack. A recent study by the American College of Cardiology found that this isn’t necessarily true.
They researched through thousands of people who took aspirin daily and currently receiving cardiology care across the U.S. They found that over 7,900 people had less than a 6% chance of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 10 years. In fact, taking aspirin on a daily basis increases the chance of gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, bleeding inside the brain, and thinning of your blood. The recommended aspirin dosage is 81 milligrams, and anything larger than that can create problems.
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Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease Now
One thing Hispanics love is food and when it comes to socializing, they don’t think twice about filling their plate. Obesity is a large cause of heart disease and it’s important to take control of your life before you suffer the consequences. Here are some things that could be done at any age to help live a healthy lifestyle and prevent heart disease:
- Eat healthy: Don’t think about it as being in a diet– incorporate fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in order to protect your heart. Limit bad fats, such as saturated trans fats and limit your intake of red meat, dairy products, fried foods, bread, and packaged snack foods.
- Exercise: Get at least 30 minutes of exercise. You can do just about anything, such as walking, running, dancing, or even workout videos. This will help pump blood to your heart, give you energy, and make you feel great when the pounds fall off.
- Sleep: Many of us take sleep for granted, but in reality getting 7-9 hours of sleep daily make a big difference.
- Visit your doctor regularly: Make sure you visit your doctor often, and that you get your blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels tested. Your doctor can help you in so many ways, and help prevent your chances of heart disease before it’s too late.