Cardiovascular Health: What can you do to reduce your Risk of Heart Disease?

Heart disease is our nation’s number one killer. Five hundred thousand Americans have an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attack every year. One half of those die. Overall, more than half a million more die from other cardiovascular related problems. Cancer is the number two killer, but is far less common a killer when compared to the heart and blood vessels. Many don’t make it to the hospital after a heart attack due to the severity or they put off going because they don’t recognize the symptoms. Many times it is difficult to diagnose even for the best physicians.

What can you do to lessen your risk of heart disease? How do you evaluate your risk?

First, see your doctor for a complete physical examination and history. Do you have a family history of heart attack, stroke or peripheral vascular disease? What are your genetic history, sex and race? Diseases vary in severity and probability according to each of these and many other factors. Do you or other members of your family have hypertension? Has anyone had limb amputations? Does diabetes of obesity run in your family? Are there thyroid problems? What is your exercise tolerance? Positive answers will lead your doctor to do certain specific blood test to eliminate these possibilities. But be careful of getting big blood test screens when not necessary. You may find an abnormal test and spend a lot of time and effort trying to find out if it is a real problem. A lot of people get harmed by spurious tests—false positives etc.

Simple things that will be performed will be a cholesterol screen checking for your bad cholesterol—LDL and good cholesterol—HDL. You may need to diet to modify the levels. Lowering your red meat intake and increasing fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, certain oils and greens will help. Exercise can also assist you. But you may need medications in addition. Your doctor will prescribe an agent for you.

If obese, caloric restriction and a weight loss program will be prescribed. Your doctor can measure your body index and waist to let you know if you are overweight. A fasting blood sugar will exclude diabetes. A thyroid hormone level may be indicated if other signs and symptoms are prevalent. Your doctor will determine that. Blood pressure checks may be done over a time period to see if you are hypertensive. One measurement is not enough.

If you smoke, quit. It is probably the best thing you can do to improve your longevity. Smoking increases cardiovascular risk for heart attack, stroke and vascular disease. Lung, mouth and laryngeal cancers are another reason to stop.

These are a few things you can easily do to prevent problems. Your doctor may talk with you about taking a baby aspirin daily and the other things listed above. Your life is in your hands, take care of yourself.