Men over 40 and women past menopause or over 50 should get screened for coronary artery disease (CAD) every 1 to 3 years. Your risk is higher if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, kidney disease, family history of CAD or if you smoke.

Eat less saturated fats in your diet to help prevent heart disease. Eat less meat, butter, cheese and cream to improve your health long-term.

If you are at low risk for coronary heart disease and do not have symptoms, screening with electrocardiography (ECG) is not recommended since the harms outweigh the benefits. More research is need to make recommendations about screening for people at high risk for coronary heart disease.

If you are overweight or obese and have high risk for heart disease or stroke, talk to your doctor about behavioral counseling to help improve your diet and increase physical activity.

There are three main types of fat: unsaturated, saturated and trans fat. Unsaturated fats can help improve cholesterol levels and lower inflammation and are found in olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds and fish. Trans fats are common in fast foods, and can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other chronic conditions.

Researchers disagree on which fats should be included in our diet. Current dietary guidelines recommend replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats for better heart health.

Evidence has shown that aspirin can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Now there is also evidence that aspirin can help reduce the risk of developing cancer or slow the spread of cancer to new parts of the body.

Simple habits can protect you from heart disease. Do not smoke, maintain a healthy weight, be active, and eat a healthy diet. This resource includes tips to help you follow these habits.

People who regularly eat small amounts of chocolate (less than 100 grams each day) have a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.

Eating too much salt can increase your blood pressure and lead to heart disease, especially if you are over 50, have high blood pressure or diabetes, or are African American. Try to eat less than a teaspoon of salt a day.

Making changes to your diet can promote heart health and reduce your risk of developing heart disease. A few tips to help get you on the path to a heart-healthy diet include: controlling your portion sizes; incorporating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat protein sources into your diet; reducing unhealthy fats and salt; planning ahead by creating daily menus; and treating yourself every once in a while.

Research on the use of vitamins to prevent heart disease or heart attack is not yet clear. Currently, using vitamins as a strategy for the prevention of heart disease is not recommended. Instead, focus on consuming foods rich in nutrients, such as fruits and vegetables, and reducing your intake of salt, trans fats, and saturated fats to aid with heart health.

Diets that promote heart health are rich in fruits and vegetables, low in saturated and trans fats, and limit the consumption of sugar, alcohol, and salt. Specific diets can help manage issues such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The DASH diet (aka Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is one choice for people with high blood pressure, while the Mediterranean diet is an option for those with high cholesterol.

Taking aspirin every day might lower your risk of heart attack. Taking aspirin causes a small risk of internal bleeding. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of aspirin, and if it is right for you.

Taking a small dose of aspirin everyday can lower your risk of having a heart attack. This might only be true in people who already have heart disease. Taking aspirin has some risks – talk to your doctor about what is best for you.

Aspirin can help lower your risk of heart attack or stroke. If you are at risk, your doctor might recommend daily aspirin. Certain people should not take aspirin, talk to your doctor about if it is the right choice for you.

Exercise might have similar effects as medication on heart disease and pre diabetes. It may have even better effects than medication for people recovering from a stroke. Exercise may be a good way to protect yourself from or treat heart disease.

Heart disease describes many different conditions that can affect your heart. Heart disease can be treated with lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery. Seek emergency medical care if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting.

Breathing secondhand smoke increases your risk of heart attack or stroke. Encourage smokers to quit or smoke outside, especially if you have heart disease or have had a heart attack.

Protein is an important part of a healthy diet, but certain high-protein foods (such as red meat) can increase your risk of heart problems and other diseases. Choose foods such as fish, chicken, beans and nuts as sources of protein.

Eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids like fish, walnuts and flaxseed because they are good for you. It is not clear that these foods or omega-3 supplements prevent heart disease, heart attacks or strokes. More research is needed.

Eating too much salt can make existing high blood pressure and heart disease worse. More unbiased and high quality research is needed to know whether salt intake is really a risk for healthy adults.

High cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease or stroke. Maintain a healthy diet, reduce your intake of fatty foods, quit smoking and exercise regularly to reduce your cholesterol levels. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, speak to your doctor about the possibility of genetic testing to see if you have an abnormal gene that increases your risk.

Many studies have shown an association between foods with a high glycemic index and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes or heart disease. Try to choose foods with medium or low glycemic index such as bran cereals, kidney beans, wheat tortillas, skim milk, peanuts and carrots. This resource provides other examples.

Heart failure occurs when your heart is not pumping as well as it should. You may be at risk if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or coronary artery disease. Living a healthier lifestyle and certain medications can help prevent and manage heart failure. Read more in this resource including questions to ask your doctor.

Abnormal heart rhythms can be dangerous. Your doctor might prescribe medicine to treat this condition, such as beta-blockers or amiodarone. Details about these medicines in this resource.

Lower your risk of coronary heart disease by eating more foods containing linoleic acid (eg. vegetable oil, nuts, and seeds) and less saturated fat and carbohydrates. Try using vegetable oil in place of butter and animal fats.

Use olive oil rather than coconut oil to maximize health benefits, but don't overdo it. Limit to 33-55 grams of unsaturated fat (olive oil) and 22 grams or less of saturated fat (coconut oil) per day.

Healthy (unsaturated) fats can improve your heart health and reduce your risk of diabetes. These fats can be found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. Omega-3 fats from fish can reduce your risk of fatal heart disease.

Red meat and processed meat may increase your risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. For a healthy diet, reduce your intake of red meat and avoid processed meat.

Medicines used to lower cholesterol (statins) may help to prevent heart attack or stroke for people with no history of heart disease.

Improve your heart health every day: eat five servings of fruit and vegetables, get 10+ minutes of exercise, and sleep for 8+ hours each night.

Eating fiber helps reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease and eases digestive issues, such as constipation. Increase your fiber intake by eating whole fruits, whole grains, beans and raw vegetables.

Some studies show that people who eat whole grains (which contain bran and fibre) may be less likely to develop type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Choose whole grains and be sure to check food labels at the grocery store because not all foods with a ‘whole grains’ label are healthy.

If you have heart disease or have had a stroke, strongly consider exercise as part of your treatment process. Evidence has shown exercise is just as effective as drug treatments for treating heart disease and prediabetes and more effective after a stroke.

Heart disease puts you at higher risk of complications from the flu. Getting a flu shot can help protect you. Flu shots are safe for most people with heart disease, talk to your doctor if you are unsure.

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in Canada. To improve your heart health, avoid smoking, eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise.