monitored every five years. If you’re 40 or over or have multiple risk factors, the AHA recommends that your doctor calculate what the chances are that you’ll develop cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years. You can also calculate your own risk online by using the AHA’s risk assessment tool.
Make a list of everything that puts you at risk.
Work on crossing as many things off that list as you can. With a healthy lifestyle – and a little help from your doctor – you may be able to slow down coronary heart disease or even avoid it altogether.
Medical treatment for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even smoking cessation is highly effective. In short, you may be able to turn America’s number-one killer into a minor-league threat.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; exercising 30 to 60 minutes at least 5 days a week (enough to break a sweat); not smoking; drinking only in moderation; keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol under control; and maintaining a good support network: all this will work wonders for your heart.
If you have high cholesterol and are unable to