Heart Disease Risk Factors to Know and What to Do
February 10, 2025
February is American Heart Month. As heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Americans, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is an important reminder to be aware of your own heart health and the risk factors that could put you at risk for heart disease.
Risk factors for heart disease and possible heart attack include:
- Family history of heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Overweight or obesity
- Smoking
- Low physical activity
- High-fat diet
- Chronic stress
While not all risk factors can be changed, knowing about them can help you take steps to manage and decrease the risk of heart disease.
These tips can help you be on track to take care of your heart and arteries for overall heart health.
- Get heart health tests. Different tests, such as EKGs, echocardiograms and blood tests, can help your doctor determine heart risk concerns and provide plans to reduce risks.
- Adjust your diet. Limit eating foods high in saturated and trans fats, salt and sugar. These ingredients may contribute to heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure if eaten in excess.
- Increase physical activity. This can help you maintain a healthy weight, blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood sugar.
- Quit smoking. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of heart disease by 2 to 4 times. After 3 to 6 years following quitting smoking, the risk of heart disease drops by half.
- Manage stress. Anxiety, stress, and PTSD can affect heart health. These conditions increase your heart rate, blood pressure and reduce blood flow. Consider talking to a therapist to help you manage stress and your mental health.
If you or a loved one is concerned about heart health, it is important to consult a doctor. Doctors Hospital of Laredo provides a full spectrum of cardiac care.