Begin or sustain some regular physical activity. Even a modest amount of activity each day will lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HDL cholesterol. Exercise also improves your heart’s pumping efficiency, benefits your circulation and increases your overall strength and endurance. Increase your consumption of vegetables, fresh fruits, low-fat milk and other dairy products, grains, fish and poultry. The main objective here is to replace foods high in saturated fat with healthier foods. Multiple sources of information exist that will help you create a heart-healthy diet. Know your cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels. The level of cholesterol in your blood is a good indicator of the health of your heart and blood vessels. Generally, the higher your cholesterol level, the greater your risk of heart disease. Ldl stands for low-density lipoprotein. LDLs carry cholesterol around the body. LDLs deposit cholesterol in blood vessels where they can eventually build up and restrict blood flow. The more LDLs you have, the higher your risk factor for heart disease. Hdl stands for high-density lipoprotein. HDLs remove cholesterol from artery walls and carry it to the liver, which breaks it down. Triglycerides are a type of fat present in foods and manufactured in the liver. The higher your triglyceride level, the greater your risk of heart disease. Watch your weight. Obesity raises triglyceride levels, which in turn promotes heart disease. Diet and physical activity should help you lower and maintain your weight. Know your family’s history of heart conditions. A family history of obesity, diabetes, heart attack, stroke or high blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease so consult a cardiologist before the age of 55 for males and 65 for females. Pay attention to the pain. If you feel your vitality generally slipping, have a checkup. If you are having chest pains go to the nearest emergency room. Reduce your stress. Don’t smoke. Limit the amount of alcohol you consume.