Lifestyle Changes to Reverse Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) primarily strikes people over the age of 65, after the heart has toiled for many years. Some very basic, common sense lifestyle changes can help to reverse or prevent CHD.

Types

• Smokers nearly quadruple their risk of developing CHD, so cessation of smoking is crucial to reverse damage. Additionally, lowering high cholesterol and blood pressure by eating a healthier diet, reducing sodium, managing diabetes, eliminating obesity and exercising daily are vital lifestyle changes to reduce coronary heart disease.

Considerations

• Reducing alcohol consumption and avoiding excessive stress lead to a healthier coronary environment, because people under stress tend to overeat, smoke or smoke more than normal.

Emotions

• Meditation, therapy, spiritual approaches or other techniques may be considered to increase peace of mind. "Depression, anxiety, and other negative emotions have been associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease," says The American Academy of Family Physicians.

Risk

• The American Heart Association's (AHA) scientific position on risk factors of CHD states, "The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing coronary heart disease."

Women

• Females may wish to consider alternative methods of birth control. "The patch can pose heart disease risks for some women, especially women older than 35; women with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol; and women who smoke," according to The National Women's Health Information Center in the United States.