Health Information TipsWeek One:
It's critical to realize that there's no quick fix for heart disease. And if heart disease is not treated, it can worsen, leading to disability and death. However, there is hope! Heart disease can be prevented or controlled through lifestyle changes and if prescribed by a doctor, taking medication.
7 Key Risk factors for heart disease and stroke you can control:
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol and high triglycerides
- Diabetes and pre-diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Overweight/obesity
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Nutrition
Risk factors for heart disease and stroke you cannot control:
- Family history of early heart disease
- Age (55 and older for women)
- History of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy
The multiplier effect:
- 1 risk factor doubles your risk
- 2 risk factors quadruple your risk
- 3 or more risk factors can increase you risk more than tenfold
By doing just 4 things -- eating right, being physically active, not smoking, and keeping a healthy weight -- you can lower your risk of heart disease by as much as 82%.
