Lifestyle and home remedies

Lifestyle changes are an important part of treatment. To follow a heart-healthy lifestyle:

• Quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about smoking cessation strategies. Also try to avoid secondhand smoke.
• Manage underlying health conditions. Treat diseases or conditions that can increase your risk of myocardial ischemia, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
• Eat a healthy diet. Limit saturated fat and eat lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Know your cholesterol numbers and ask your doctor if you've reduced them to the recommended level.
• Exercise. Talk to your doctor about starting a safe exercise plan to improve blood flow to your heart.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, talk to your doctor about weight-loss options.
• Decrease stress. Practice healthy techniques for managing stress, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing.

It's important to have regular medical checkups. Some of the main risk factors for myocardial ischemia — high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes — have no symptoms in the early stages. Early detection and treatment can set the stage for a lifetime of better heart health.