Be smoke-free Being smoke free is one of the best things you can do to protect your heart. Read more about smoking
Manage your blood cholesterol Cholesterol is a fatty substance carried in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol to be healthy, but an imbalance of cholesterol in your blood can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Find out more about blood cholesterol and how to manage it
Manage your blood pressure Blood pressure isn’t usually something you can feel. If it’s too high, it needs to be treated. Read about blood pressure and what you can do to control high blood pressure
Manage diabetes It’s important to manage your diabetes to help prevent a heart attack or stroke. For information on managing diabetes, visit the Diabetes Australia website.
Be physically active Regular, moderate physical activity is great for your heart health. It’s never too late to start and get the benefits. It’s also important to sit less during your day and break up your sitting time. Find out what you can do about getting active and sitting less
Achieve and maintain a healthy weight Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of heart disease and other health problems. It can help to know your body mass index and waist measurements and what these mean. Find out how
Enjoy a variety of nutritious foods Eating a varied diet of healthy foods can help with your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. Find out more about healthy eating
There are also specific changes you can make to your diet to help prevent heart disease:
Eat less salt: Reducing your salt intake is good for your blood pressure. Read about salt in your diet and ways to reduce it Replace unhealthy fats with healthy fats: Replacing saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats can reduce your risk of heart disease. Easy ideas for making the switch Limit alcohol: Read about alcohol recommendations and tips for cutting down on our drinks page. (C) Heart Foundation
