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Lose Weight Sensibly
If you are overweight, shedding pounds will reduce the stress on your heart. Losing weight also may improve your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels.

A low-calorie diet—plus exercise if your doctor recommends it—can help. Here are some tips:

• Try to lose weight slowly—about a pound a week.
• Know your serving sizes. A serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards. A serving of bread is half of a bagel or English muffin.
• To reduce fat intake, choose low-fat milk and dairy products. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Trim the fat and skin from meats and poultry. Choose smart desserts such as fresh fruit, sherbet, or angel food cake instead of heavy sweets. Avoid fried foods.
• Whenever you can, cook in a nonstick pan to reduce the amount of oil you need.
• If you eat a fatty food, choose healthier foods for the rest of the day.

Watch for Fluid Weight Gain
Daily weigh-ins help alert you if your body starts retaining too much fluid. Each morning, weigh yourself on a bathroom scale after urinating and before eating. Write down your weight in a diary if it helps you to remember. If your weight goes up by more than two or three pounds in a day, call your doctor. Adjusting your medicines can help.