Heart disease and heart failure is the number one cause of death in the United States. While some risk factors, such as family history, sex, or age, are unavoidable, there are numerous strategies to lower your risk of heart disease by following a healthy lifestyle. Heart disease isn't limited to the elderly. It's happening to a growing number of young adults. This is partly due to the fact that the circumstances that contribute to heart disease occur at a younger age. Younger people (ages 35–64) have higher rates of obesity and high blood pressure, placing them at risk for heart disease earlier in life. Preventing heart disease, and most other cardiovascular diseases, requires making wise decisions now that will pay off later in life.

Over time, a lack of exercise, a bad diet, and other unhealthy behaviors can take their toll on your body. Simple efforts to keep one's heart healthy during each decade of life can benefit anyone of any age. Here's how to do it:

1. Maintain an exercise regimen
   
   It is recommended to aim for at least 30 to 60 minutes of activity daily. Physical activity helps you maintain a healthy weight and reduces your risk of developing other heart-related illnesses such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Even five minutes of movement counts toward your total, and tasks like gardening, housekeeping, taking the stairs, and walking the dog all count. Learn more about how to get enough physical activity.
   
   
2. Eat a well balanced diet
   
   Low-fat, low-saturated-fat, low-added-sugar, and low-sodium foods Fill at least half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, and choose low-sodium selections. A nutritious diet can help protect your heart, lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. Try including the following foods into your diet to help keep your heart healthy:
   
   

● Nuts

● Fish and lean meats

● Fruits and vegetables

● Beans and legumes

● Whole grains

● Healthy fats, such as olive oil and avocado

In addition to eating heart healthy foods, it's also recommended to avoid over processed, sugar foods that include saturated fat, trans fat and processed carbohydrates.

3.Avoid smoking or using tobacco

It is well known that smoking is bad for your overall health. Stopping smoking or using smokeless tobacco is one of the healthiest things you can do for your heart. Even if you don't smoke, stay away from secondhand smoke as that can also have a negative affect on your heart and body. Tobacco contains chemicals that can harm your heart and blood vessels. Because your heart needs to work harder to give enough oxygen to your body, cigarette smoke lowers the oxygen in your blood, raising your blood pressure and heart rate.

4. Get enough sleep

Sleep deprivation can cause more than yawning; it can also be harmful to your health. Obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, and depression are all increased in people who don't get enough sleep. The average adult needs at least seven hours of sleep per night. Make sleeping a top priority in your daily routine. Set a sleep pattern and adhere to it every day by going to bed and waking up at the same time. To make sleeping easier, keep your bedroom dark and quiet.

By following these tips, you'll keep your heart and body healthy. By staying active, making heart-healthy eating changes, avoiding smoking tobacco and getting enough sleep you'll help your heart function optimally so you can live your life the way you should.