Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally, but small habits change risk a lot. If you want to protect your heart, focus on blood pressure, cholesterol, activity, weight, smoking, and stress. This page collects useful guides from HighStreetPharma to help you act—whether you need lifestyle tweaks or questions about common heart medicines.
Start with realistic goals. Swap sugary drinks and fried food for vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity most days—walking, cycling, or brisk gardening counts. Lose even five to ten percent of body weight if you're overweight; that often lowers blood pressure and improves cholesterol. Quit smoking: within a year your heart risk falls sharply.
Know your blood pressure and fasting cholesterol numbers. A single reading isn't enough; track them over time and bring results to your doctor. If your LDL (“bad” cholesterol) is high, lifestyle changes matter but medicines like atorvastatin or benazepril may be recommended. Our Atorlip and Benazepril guides explain what these drugs do, typical doses, and common side effects so you can ask smarter questions at appointments.
Medication decisions depend on risk. If you have diabetes, a history of heart attack, or very high cholesterol, your doctor may advise a statin even if lifestyle changes help. Want to try lowering cholesterol naturally? Read our “Lifestyle Changes That Can Replace Atorvastatin” article for practical diet and activity tips that have real impact when followed consistently.
Some problems aren’t obvious until they become urgent. Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, sudden arm or jaw pain, and intense sweating can signal a heart attack—call emergency services right away. Leg swelling, redness, and sudden calf pain after surgery or long travel could mean a deep vein thrombosis (DVT); our DVT and anesthesia guide covers warning signs and when to seek help.
Medication safety matters. Many posts on this tag explain how to buy medications safely online, identify trustworthy pharmacies, and avoid fakes. If you’re prescribed drugs like isosorbide mononitrate, benazepril, or statins, verify dosages and interactions. Keep a list of all medicines and share it with every care provider.
If you start a statin, your doctor may check a liver enzyme test at baseline and only if symptoms occur later. Taking benazepril means your provider will watch your blood pressure, kidney function, and potassium levels. Report a persistent dry cough on an ACE inhibitor right away. Also tell your clinician about supplements such as grapefruit juice, which can affect some drugs.
Sleep, stress, and alcohol matter too. Untreated sleep apnea raises blood pressure and heart risk; ask about a sleep test if you snore and feel tired. Cut back alcohol to moderate levels—more than two drinks a day for men and one for women raises blood pressure. Manage stress with practical tools: short walks, breathing exercises, and social support work better than endless worry.
