Heart disease prevention begins with being aware of your risk factors for the condition, monitoring your health, and knowing your family's medical history. If you have high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure, closely monitoring these conditions is also important. Lifestyle changes (such as losing weight, changing your diet, reducing stress, and quitting smoking) and possibly taking medication can also help with heart disease prevention.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. More than 910,000 Americans die of cardiovascular diseases each year, which amounts to one death every 35 seconds. In addition, more than 13 million people are currently living with heart disease. Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of premature, permanent disability in the U.S. workforce. Fortunately, in most cases, heart disease can be prevented, and it is not as hard as most people think.
The steps for effective heart disease prevention involve:
Having close relatives with heart disease at younger ages (diagnosed before age 55 in a father or brother; diagnosed before age 65 in a mother or sister).
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