What You Need to Know to Prevent Heart Disease

Taking Charge of Your and Your Family's Health

As the health manager for your family, you can take charge and create a heart-healthy environment, which encourages kids to adopt healthful habits early on. By making the following lifestyle changes yourself, you can also lower your risk of heart disease and improve your overall physical and mental health.

Work together to build a heart-healthy home by:

1. Stopping smoking or never starting to smoke
   
   Reason: Tobacco smoke increases the likelihood that your arteries will harden, which restricts blood flow to the heart. Smokers are at least twice as likely to develop heart disease as non-smokers. Women who smoke and use birth control pills are at even greater risk.


2. Getting regular exercise
   
   Reason: Regular exercise improves heart function and lowers both blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. In fact, people who maintain an active lifestyle have a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease and diabetes than those who do not.


3. Eating a heart-healthy diet
   
   Reason: Diets that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt can help prevent heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. For healthier eating, choose foods that are high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.


4. Maintaining a healthy weight
   
   Reason: Excess body fat greatly increases your risk, even if you don't have any other risk factors. Losing just 10 pounds can make a big difference.


5. Knowing your numbers
   
   Reason: Abnormal blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar (glucose) ranges can be red flags for diabetes and heart disease. Have regular screenings and ask your health care provider what's normal for your age. Then, you'll "know your numbers," and you'll be able to keep track of any changes that could be warning signs of heart disease or that any health problems you already have may be getting worse. Women's cholesterol is often higher than men's after 45 years of age.

Talking with Your Health Care Provider

Make sure to talk with your health care provider to determine your risk for developing heart disease. You should also be aware of the effects of obesity and other risk factors on your children's health. Be honest about your children's lifestyle during regular checkups with their pediatrician. For example, discuss whether they get enough exercise, how often they eat well-balanced meals at home, etc. Ask for guidance if you need it.

Here are some questions you might want to ask your family's health care providers, including your own: