New Heart Disease Prevention Guidelines published by the American Heart Association

• Quit smoking
• Avoid second-hand smoke

• < 140/90 mm Hg
• < 130/80 mm Hg if patient has diabetes or chronic kidney disease

• LDL < 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L)
• reduce intake of saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol
• add plant sterols and soluble fiber to diet
• encourage intake of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil capsule form

• 30 mins, 7 days a week (min 5 days)
• encourage resistance training 2 days a week

• BMI 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2
• Waist circumference:
  Men < 40 inches
  Women < 35 inches

• HbA1C < 7 percent

Message: To treat high blood cholesterol, the National Cholesterol Education Program NCEP recommends following the TLC diet (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Diet). To lower blood pressure, the NHLBI recommends following the DASH Diet.

Further Reading

• Heart Smart Diet
• High Blood Pressure Diet (DASH Diet)
• American Heart Association revises Diet Recommendations
• BMI Calculator
• Waist-to-Hip Ratio Calculator
• Fish and Heart Disease
• AHA/ACC Guidelines for Secondary Prevention for Patients With Coronary and Other Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease Click here for the full report