Prevent a Heart Attack (Cont.)

 
Preventing or Managing Diabetes to Prevent Heart Attacks
People with diabetes have high blood glucose (often called blood sugar). People with high blood sugar often have no diabetes symptoms, so have your blood sugar checked regularly. Having diabetes raises your chances of getting heart disease. If you have diabetes, your doctor will decide if you need diabetes medicine, such as pills or insulin shots. Your doctor can also help you make a healthy eating (see Diabetic Diet) and exercise plan (see Diabetes and Exercise).
 
(Click Diabetes Treatment for more information.)
 
Controlling Cholesterol to Prevent a Heart Attack
High blood cholesterol can clog your arteries and keep your heart from getting the blood it needs. This can cause a heart attack. Triglycerides are a form of fat in your bloodstream. High levels of triglycerides are linked to heart disease in some people. People with high cholesterol or high triglycerides often have no high cholesterol symptoms, so have your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked (through a lipid panel) at least once every five years. If your triglyceride or cholesterol levels are high, lowering them to normal cholesterol levels is a big step to prevent a heart attack. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to lower them. You may be able to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels by eating better (see Low Cholesterol Diet) and exercising more (see Exercise and Cholesterol). Your doctor may prescribe cholesterol medication to help lower cholesterol.
 
(Click Lowering Cholesterol for more information.)
(Prevent a Heart Attack Continued: Page 6)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD