With the help of a doctor, a lot can be done to treat angina and reduce symptoms. Choices you make each day can slow the build-up of plaque in your arteries and reduce your risk of heart attack. Here’s a list to get you started—

Adopt a Heart-Healthy Diet

Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy diet that is low in fat and salt will reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Use this website to learn about heart-healthy nutrition, including tips and tools that will change your life.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors for coronary artery disease, stroke and heart attack. If you smoke, it's a good idea to talk with your doctor about strategies to help quit smoking.

Maintain an Ideal Body Weight

Excess weight contributes strongly to the critical risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.You can do a lot to reduce your risk of coronary artery disease with a healthy diet that includes portion control. A regular exercise program will also help you maintain your ideal body weight.

Exercise at Least 30 Minutes, 5 Times a Week

Making regular physical activity part of your lifestyle is one of the most effective ways to improve your heart health. You can use the SecondsCount Physical Activity & Excercise center to help you get started with physical activity and to help you stick with it.

Manage Your Stress

Whether you realize it or not, your mind and body are very closely connected. Anxiety and other powerful emotions are driven by thoughts but felt by the body. What happens when you become stressed or scared? Chances are your heart beats faster and it’s harder to breath. It makes your heart work harder, which means you might have angina. Taking a positive approach to life, setting realistic expectations and discovering healthy ways to relax and manage your stress can help you reduce your symptoms.

Ask Your Doctor About Cardiac Rehab

It is not easy to change so many areas of your life all at once. Cardiac rehabilitation is a great way to learn new habits and build a support system by meeting other people who are making similar changes. It may also reduce your risk of depression—a problem that is common among people with heart problems.