Heart diseases are often hereditary. If your father has had problems with his heart, this increases your chances of developing heart problems. However, if your mother has had heart issues, the chances of you following in her footsteps are much greater. If both your parents have had heart diseases, you surely do need to constantly monitor your own heart and lifestyle.

The fact that your mother has had heart problems serves as a warning sign to you, so start taking immediate actions to improve your heart.

Although it is a fact that statistically more men than women suffer from heart problems, women are far more likely to die from a heart attack than a man is. In fact, more women die of heart attacks than they do of all the cancers combined.

Cholesterol

Keep your cholesterol under check. If both your parents have high cholesterol, get yours checked when you are in your late twenties. If you haven't been exercising adequately and have been indulging yourself with generous helpings of cakes, mithai, butter, fried food and other forms of saturated fats, chances are, your cholesterol may be high as well. Take your reports to an endocrinologist. It is best if you get an entire lipid profile check rather than just a total cholesterol test. A lipid profile will give you a detailed break-up of the various kinds of cholesterol in your body, and your doctor can medicate you accordingly. You will need to go on an empty stomach in the morning (after a 10 to 12 hour fast) for a lipid profile blood test, or results may be inaccurate.

If your cholesterol is high, you may prefer to stay off medication and try and reduce the levels through lifestyle changes. Although this is commendable, medication is very effective and can help lower cholesterol to a great degree - thus tremendously reducing your chances of a heart attack. In fact it has often been suggested that practitioners should prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs more regularly than they do.

These drugs should be used in combination with diet and exercise.

Exercise

You don't have to run the marathon to be heart-healthy, but some form of exercise for at least half an hour, a minimum of four times a week, helps keep your heart fit. Even a brisk walk around the block does the trick, as long as you ensure you walk at such a pace so as to increase your heart rate - and hold that pace for around 25 minutes. Swimming is also provides a great cardiovascular workout.

Diet

If you still haven't started calling for double-toned or skimmed milk, do so now. You don't need all that extra fat in your body! Stay away from cookies, they are filled with 'maida' and butter. Similarly, skip the butter on your toast and stay away from pizzas topped with cheese. Opt for tomato-based pastas when eating out.

Yoga

Studies suggest that yoga, especially meditation, helps lowers stress levels and this helps reduce the risk of developing heart diseases. Om to that!