Heart disease prevention, reduce risk of heart attack

What if we told you your chances of having a heart attack are greatly reduced if you follow six easy steps? Well, it's true. Women who didn't smoke, had a normal body mass index

(BMI), got at least two and a half hours of exercise a week, watched an hour or less of TV a day, ate a healthy diet and limited alcohol to a drink or less a day had a 92 percent lower risk

for coronary heart disease, according to a study published in January 2015 in the _Journal of the American College of Cardiology_. Up your odds even more by following these tips. 1. WHITTLE

YOUR MIDDLE If you're shaped more like an apple than a pear, you're at a higher risk for heart disease. The risk rises when waist size goes over 35 inches for women and over 40 for

men. The best way to reduce your waist size is by losing weight and exercising, but a study published in the journal _Lipids_ noted that dietary supplements with coconut oil may also help

shrink belly fat. Floss at least once a day to reduce your risk of a heart attack. Nick Ferarri 2. FLOSS Studies point to a link between gum disease and higher rates of heart disease.

Experts suggest two theories about why this is so. One is that mouth bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the gums and increase artery plaque, which can lead to heart attack and

stroke. Another is that our bodies create inflammation in response to the infection, causing blood cells to swell and narrowing arteries. The American Academy of Periodontology recommends

flossing at least once a day to prevent gum disease. 3. SWEAT WHEN YOU EXERCISE It's not how much time you spend working out but how hard you're doing it. You need to pump up your

heart rate until you're perspiring. Experts advise pushing till you're modestly out of breath. (If you can sing, you're not working out hard enough. If you can't talk,

you're overdoing it.) 4. GET ENOUGH VITAMIN D "Low levels of vitamin D can increase your risk of stroke and heart attack," says Steven Masley, M.D., author of _The 30-Day

Heart Tune-Up. _Ask your doc to test your levels and prescribe the right supplement dosage for you. 5. CUDDLE MORE Snuggling not only feels good — it reduces stress and triggers the release

of the hormone oxytocin, which has been shown to help lower blood pressure. Don't have a reliable cuddle partner? Rescue a pup from the pound. 6. THINK OUTSIDE THE PILLBOX If

you're taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for chronic pain, you might want to try promising alternative treatments instead. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just

strengthened its warning against NSAIDs, saying they can increase heart attack and stroke risk even if you've been taking them only a short while. Possible relief alternatives for

chronic pain include acupuncture, biofeedback, therapeutic touch, Reiki, hypnosis, chiropractic adjustments — even medical marijuana.