Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Plan - Essay Example Although, currently my cholesterol levels and glucose levels are controlled, which also significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but my habitual smoking and increased body fat are considerable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It has been proved through research that smoking doubles the risk for ischemic stroke and smoking acts along with other modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Smoking however, is also one of the risk factors which can be easily alterable. Smoking is also associated with premature morbidity and mortality leading to approximately 430,000 deaths per year in United States (Ockene and Miller 3243). A body mass index of 30 or more is considered obese and is a significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Being overweight increases the risk of increased blood cholestrol levels and triglyceride levels and also predisposes the person to diabetes and high blood pressure (National Inst ituite of Health). Cardiovascular diseases such as coronoray heart disease can be prevented by changes in lifestyle and different medicines. Since I am not suffering from high blood pressure and high cholestrol levels, I need to focus on changing my lifestyle in order to attain maximum prevention. Lifestyle changes that I strictly need to follow are following a healthy diet, being physically active, managing my weight and quit smoking. Stress management is also important and should be made a part of normal lifestyle. I should eat healthy diet which includes high fiber, low saturated and trans fat, high in omega-3 fatty acids and reducing daily salt and sugar intake (National Instituite of Health). Low-fat dairy products, fruits and vegetables, fish, legumes, poultry, lean meats, and grains are good sources of energy which also do not increase the risk to cardiovascular disease. According to guidelines I should reduce