Still, the American Heart Association recommends that you limit your average daily cholesterol intake to 300 milligrams or less. People with severe hypercholesterolemia may need an even greater reduction. Since cholesterol is present in all foods from animal sources, care must be taken to eat no more than six ounces of lean meat, fish and poultry per day and to use skim and low-fat dairy products. High-quality proteins from vegetable sources are good substitutes for animal sources of protein. A higher HDL level is linked with decreased risk of heart disease.
Exercise can also help control weight, diabetes, high blood pressure.
Such vigorous, regular exercise as brisk walking, jogging and swimming also condition your heart and lungs. Lack of physical activity has been established as a major risk factor for heart disease. Even mild activities, if done daily, help reduce your risk. Examples are walking for pleasure, gardening, yard work, housework, dancing and prescribed home exercise. Cigarette smoke Cigarette smoke is one of the four major risk factors of heart attack that you can control.