To reduce your risk of developing heart disease, it is first important to know what your risk factors are. With a visit to your primary care provider and some routine tests, your risk factors for heart disease can be determined.
After your risk factors are determined, it is important to work with your health care team to build a prevention plan that is tailored to your specific risk factors. Components of the prevention plan could include the following lifestyle changes or medications:
- Exercising regularly and eating heart-healthy foods: Regular exercise and adherence to a heart-healthy diet can lower your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, help prevent or control diabetes and aid in weight loss. Because of their effect in controlling multiple key risk factors, physical activity and dietary modifications are two of the most important lifestyle changes that you can implement to reduce your risk of developing heart disease. It is important to talk to your health care team to get recommendations on the type of exercise and heart-healthy diet that works best for you.
- Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption: If you smoke, there are many effective tools that can help you quit smoking. Your health care team can recommend behavioral change programs, nicotine replacement therapy or medications to help you quit smoking. Smoking cessation can significantly decrease your risk of heart disease. If you don’t drink alcohol, it is wise to not start. If you drink, limit your consumption to no more than two drinks for men and one drink per day for women. Limiting your alcohol consumption can reduce your risk of heart disease and prevent you from several other serious complications including liver disease, suicide, accidents and cancers.
- Medications: Your health care team will give you recommendations on whether you need to take medications to control your high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol or diabetes. By taking your prescribed medications as directed, you can maximize your chance of preventing heart disease.
How Can UofL Health Help Me Reduce My Risk of Heart Disease?
Whether you already know that you have an increased risk of heart disease based on the risk factors discussed above, or you want to determine your risk of heart disease, UofL Physicians – Cardiology and UofL Physicians – Cardiology Associates houses a team of experts who can help you better understand your risk and work with you to build an effective prevention plan tailored to your specific risk factors. UofL Physicians – Cardiology and UofL Physicians – Cardiology Associates believe in patient-centered management, which means, as the most important member of the health care team, you will be involved in devising and deciding a plan of action consisting of lifestyle changes or medications that would help reduce your risk of heart disease.
Once you start the journey to reducing your risk of heart disease, the experts at UofL Physicians – Cardiology and UofL Physicians – Cardiology Associates encourage you to talk about any challenges you have had in implementing the mutually developed prevention and treatment plan and provide you with the support you need for better success. Together, we can reduce your risk of heart disease.
At UofL Health, we provide comprehensive, patient-centered cardiovascular medical care to patients across the region. To schedule an appointment with UofL Physicians – Primary Care to determine your level of risk, call 502-588-4343. For cardiology services, click here to see our heart care locations.
