Final answer:
Maia can lower her chance of having heart disease by eating a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, and getting regular check-ups.
Step-by-step explanation:
To help lower her chance of having heart disease, Maia can take several steps:
- Eat a healthy diet: Maia should focus on consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. She should limit her intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars.
- Engage in regular physical activity: Maia should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week. She can choose activities she enjoys, such as walking, biking, swimming, or dancing.
- Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke: Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. If Maia is a smoker, she should seek help to quit. Additionally, she should avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Maia should aim to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. This can be achieved through a combination of healthy eating and regular physical activity.
- Manage stress: Chronic stress can contribute to the development of heart disease. Maia should find healthy coping mechanisms, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones, to manage stress.
- Get regular check-ups: Maia should visit her healthcare provider regularly for check-ups and screenings. This allows for early detection and management of any health conditions, including heart disease.