But Mississippi is leading the nation in physical inactivity, and it has one of the highest percentages of obesity in the country. Virtually any physical activity is good to add to a routine. Walking for at least 30 minutes and doing another form of aerobic activity for 30 to 60 minutes a few times a week is a good way to get the exercise needed to reduce heart disease. The more exercise you get, the better off you are. Bicycle riding, gardening and even cleaning the house can be physically beneficial.
Healthy diets are essential for reducing heart disease risks.
And the good news is that you don't have to replace your favorite foods with flavorless foods. The trick is not to consume some foods in as great amounts or as often as others. Some tips for eating healthier include decreasing the amount of fried foods, selecting lean cuts of meat and trimming visible fat, removing skin from poultry, using low-fat dairy products and adding more spices instead of butter or margarine when preparing foods. Smoking significantly increases an individual's risk of heart attack. However, if a smoker quits the bad habit, their heart disease risk will gradually decrease to the level of a nonsmoker.