According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in the United States. Many people die from heart disease because they don't know that they have it and are not able to take the necessary steps to prevent it from turning deadly. There are steps you can take to assess your risk of heart disease.
Step 1
Research your family history. Talk to your family members to determine if heart disease runs in your family or if any family members have experienced heart problems in adulthood. Men over 45 and women over 55 are at a higher risk for heart disease.
Step 2
Assess your cholesterol and blood pressure. Individuals with high cholesterol and high blood pressure are at greater risk for developing heart disease. Consuming less sodium, exercising regularly or losing weight can help to lower these numbers.
Step 3
Assess your lifestyle. Do you smoke? Do you have a diet high in fat and cholesterol? Do you consume alcohol? If so, you are directly at risk for developing heart disease. Smokers will undoubtedly have symptoms of cardiovascular disease that can turn into full-blown heart disease. The best solution is to stop smoking; admittedly difficult, find ways to slowly reduce the amount you smoke in anticipation of eventually quitting. Adjust your diet to decrease the amount of fat you eat and increase the number of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains you consume. Alcohol is okay in moderation; try to limit yourself to one or two drinks per day or less.
Step 4
Talk with your doctor about the information you discovered in your assessments. He can work with you to make a final determination and a treatment plan to reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
