If your life has already been impacted by heart disease, Dr. B The Heart Doctor provides you with these simple tips to protect yourself from further cardiovascular events. 

Conditions include: Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Heart Attack, Stroke, Bypass Surgery, Angioplasty,Stent and/or Thoracic or Abdominal Aneurysm 

1. Be careful not to run out of your heart medication. If you have high cholesterol (dyslipidemia), ask your cardiologist if statin therapy is appropriate. Your total cholesterol goal should be <200 mg/dL and LDL-C < 70 mg/dL. Be sure you take our CoQ10 supplement if you are on Statins.
2. Be sure to follow up with your cardiologist every three months, or otherwise as directed.
3. Take at least one baby aspirin a day.
4. Have you been vaccinated for the flu? If not, get that flu vaccine! It actually reduces your chance of having another cardiovascular event.
5. Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.
6. Modify your diet to reduce salt intake. Click here for tips on how to cut that salt out!
7. If you are overweight, set a goal to lose 3-10% of your body weight through diet and exercise.
8. Avoid red meat. If you must have it, try bison and limit yourself to 8oz per month.
9. Load up on olive oil, fatty fish (such as salmon), whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, but steer clear of trans fats, sugar-sweetened beverages (no sodas!), sugary foods, breads and rolls.
10. In the morning, have a bowl of oatmeal with some nuts and a cup of black coffee.
11. Apple cider vinegar, one teaspoon a day.  High-density cholesterol in your body, or good cholesterol, removes bad cholesterol from your arteries and helps fight heart attacks and strokes. By consuming the vinegar, you're increasing bile production and helping support your liver, which are both very important for processing and creating good cholesterol.
12. Eat one garlic clove a day. Not the whole bulb. Garlic is one of the best sources of the therapeutically beneficial medical compound allicin. Studies suggest that garlic over a prolonged time is effective in reducing blood pressure and bad LDL cholesterol.
13. Be sure you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Take your blood pressure daily, following these instructions. Try to aim for a reading of 130/80.
14. Get outside and walk five minutes a day. The fresh air will do wonders for your heart. However, you want to avoid very cold weather! Cold weather contracts blood vessels and raises your blood pressure, which puts more stress on your heart.
15. Reduce the amount of time you are sedentary or sitting! It makes a real difference.
16. Spend 15 minutes alone with your thoughts each day, concentrating on your breathing.
17. Treat yourself to a small glass of wine at dinner (first check with your doctor if this is OK) and a little bit of dark chocolate for a late-night bite. Both contain heart-healthy antioxidants
18. Get 7-8 hours of restful sleep every night. If you find you are not getting restful sleep, get checked for sleep apnea.
19. If you have any symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or irregular heartbeat, notify your cardiologist immediately or go to the nearest ER.