Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffThe same lifestyle habits that can help treat coronary artery disease can also help prevent it from developing in the first place. Leading a healthy lifestyle can help keep your arteries strong, elastic and smooth, and allow for maximum blood flow. Heart-healthy habits include:
- Not smoking
- Controlling conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
- Staying physically active
- Eating healthy foods
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Reducing and managing stress
- Coronary artery disease. National Lung, Heart, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Cad/CAD_WhatIs.html. Accessed April 29, 2010.
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- Toth PP, et al. Coronary artery disease. In: Rakel RE. Rakel: Textbook of Family Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/198193047-17/0/1481/455.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50041-5--cesec46_2228. Accessed April 29, 2010.
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- Body composition tests. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4489. Accessed April 29, 2010.
- Heart disease. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/heart-disease/. Accessed April 29, 2010.
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- Lovett E, et al. Advising patients about herbs and nutraceuticals: Tips for primary care providers. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2010;37:13.

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