The best efforts in heart disease prevention consider a wide range of factors, including smoking, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, obesity, exercise, diet and nutrition, and other contributors. It may sound like a lot, but making a few dietary and lifestyle changes can make a significant difference, and substantially lower your risk of a heart event.

Many people want to know how to prevent heart disease, but are afraid to ask or unwilling to do what it takes to lower their risk. Following are some of the main considerations, as well as what you can do to improve your cardiovascular health.

If you are smoker, try to cut down as soon as possible. There is a very strong link between cigarette smoking and heart disease, and studies show that quitting can actually reverse some of the damage incurred. The sooner you stop, the better off you are.

Heart disease prevention should include checking your blood indicators such as cholesterol levels, triglycerides, homocysteine and CRP. Elevated levels of one or more of these increased your chances of heart attack or stroke, so you should make sure all are within safe levels.

This is one of the most important ways how to prevent heart disease, and of these can be addressed through natural means, such as exercise and diet, which are basic elements of any heart disease prevention program. There are also herbal supplements discussed on this site which can help.

It is also important to check your weight, and if your doctor feels you are overweight he will recommend changes in your diet and encourage you to exercise more frequently. Again, the relationship between excess body weight and heart disease is proven. Sedentary people run twice the risk of developing heart disease as active people. If you want to know how to prevent heart disease, start by get off the couch.

Americans are known for making bad food choices, which is why we lead the world in cardiovascular disease. Only 27 per cent of American women and 19 per cent of men say they eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Many studies have shown the positive effects of diet and supplements in preventing heart disease.

Reducing alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day will be another recommendation in a heart disease prevention program from your physician. Diet should include eating foods high in fiber and low in cholesterol, low in saturated fats and salt and low in processed or refined foods. Lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables are recommended. Diet changes should be made in conjunction with lifestyle changes, including a walking program of 30 minutes a day.

Lastly, ensuring that you get heart healthy vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients is key, and since so many of our diets are lacking, supplementation can be the next best thing. A full supply of B family vitamins, Omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium and antioxidant herbal extracts are vital for heart health, and can be found in high quality supplements.

Now that you know how to prevent heart disease, discuss your options with you doctor. The sooner you start taking care of your heart the better off you'll be.

David Bloom is a health enthusiast and contributor to many fitness sites. He is the author of heart disease prevention , a section of Healthy Heart Guide discussing how to lower your risk of cardiovascular probems.