Take Action! Take steps today to lower your risk for heart disease.
Know your numbers. High blood pressure and high cholesterol can cause heart disease and heart attack.
Get your cholesterol checked. Men need to get their cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years. Women at risk for heart disease need to get their cholesterol checked once every 5 years. Talk with your doctor about getting your cholesterol checked.
Get your blood pressure checked. Starting at age 18, get your blood pressure checked at least once every 2 years. High blood pressure has no signs or symptoms.
Your family history affects your risk for heart disease. Use the family health history tool to keep track of your family’s health. Share this information with your doctor.
If you are worried about a family member’s risk for heart disease, use these tips to start a conversation about heart health.
Quitting smoking helps lower the risk of having a heart attack. Call 1-800-784-8669 for free support and to set up your plan for quitting.
Aspirin can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke by preventing blood clots. Aspirin is not recommended for everyone. Talk with your doctor to find out aspirin is the right choice for you.
A heart-healthy diet includes foods that are low in cholesterol, saturated and trans fats, sugar, and sodium.
Heart-healthy items include high-fiber foods: whole grains, fruits, vegetables & certain fats. Check out these heart-healthy recipe collections: Keep the BeatTM and Stay Young at Heart.
Extra weight can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, & diabetes. If you are overweight or obese, losing just 10 pounds can lower your risk.
Adults need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week. This includes walking fast, dancing, and biking. If you are just getting started, try walking for 10 minutes a day, a few days each week. Then add more activity over time.
Drinking alcohol only in moderation can help lower your risk. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit your drinking to no more than 1 drink a day for women and no more than 2 drinks a day for men.
Managing stress can help prevent serious health problems like heart disease, depression, and high blood pressure.
Take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes. When you have diabetes, there is too much glucose in your blood. Over time, if it’s not controlled, diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart disease.
At http://healthfinder.gov/ get personalized screening recommendations with myhealthfinder tool. A shopping list with heart-healthy foods and a calculator to figure out body mass index are also available.