“There is no question that heart attacks can often occur suddenly and without warning. However, nothing is more distressing to me as a cardiologist than seeing patients ignore their own risk factors.” Said, Thomas W. Pappas, M.D., Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center. “Without question, acting early, and attacking risk factors proactively, can reduce the likelihood of sudden heart attack!”
Below are some tips that may save your life.
Risk factors you can’t control:
- Age. The risk of heart disease increases for men after age 45 and for women after age 55 (or after menopause)
- Family history of early heart disease
- A history of preeclampsia
- Race (African Americans, American Indians, and Mexican Americans are more likely to have heart disease than Caucasians)
- Diabetes
Risk factors you can control:
By making lifestyle changes, you can improve or eliminate many of these risk factors and reduce your risk for heart disease.- An unhealthy diet
- Smoking
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Uncontrolled high cholesterol
- Diabetes and prediabetes
- Lack of physical activity
- Being overweight or obesity
- Stress
- Illegal drug use
If you believe you're at higher risk of a heart attack due to circumstances beyond your control, pay closer attention to lifestyle factors you can control to help reduce your risk of heart attack. Even small changes can make a difference.
Speak to your physician if you are having health issues. Visit www.chsli.org to find a doctor near you.
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