These risk factors are within your control:

Having high blood pressure

Having high cholesterol

Being overweight

Having a sedentary lifestyle

Smoking

You cannot change these risk factors:

Age

Family history

Here are five things you can do to reduce your risk of a heart attack or heart disease and make your heart healthier:

1. Make good choices when planning meals and snacks.
   • Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
   • Eliminate fats, sugar, and processed foods.
2. Stop smoking; it can cause a heart attack. Smoking also causes many respiratory conditions including lung cancer, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis.
3. Improve the quality of your sleep; try to get eight hours of sleep in a quiet, dark room
4. Decrease the amount of stress in your life as much as possible; try meditation, stretching, breathing, and seeking help, if needed.
5. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity a day at least five days per week. Here are four options to consider:
   • Hiking. Here is a list of hiking trails Dr. Jones has compiled. There are ten beautiful hikes in Arizona listed from easy to more advanced.
   • Swimming. Join a local gym or YMCA if you do not have a pool
   • Walking in the pool is great if you are obese or have painful knees
   • Lifting weights. Ten reps x two sets of each movement can help increase your strength, give you energy, and inspire you to do more.