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Tips for preventing heart disease

Newsday Staff

6:36 PM EDT, June 22, 2008

Am I at risk? Here are some risk factors for heart disease, and how to work to prevent it:

SMOKING: Don't smoke, because it increases blood pressure, increases the tendency for blood to clot and decreases HDL (good) cholesterol. It also is a major cause of atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries.
BLOOD PRESSURE: High blood pressure is a major risk factor. A level of 120/80 or lower is normal. Lifestyle changes or medication adjustments may help you lower your risk.
CHOLESTEROL: Less than a total of than 200 milligrams per deciliter with an HDL (good) cholesterol of at least 40 mg/dL is desirable. You should work with your doctor to reach your cholesterol target, and test it regularly.
DIABETES: Exercise and weight control can help prevent adult-onset diabetes. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease and stroke.
OBESITY: Lose weight if you are overweight or obese. An adult who has a body mass index of 30 or higher is considered obese. Overweight is a BMI between 25 and 29.9. Normal weight is a BMI of 18 to 24.9. (Go to nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm to calculate your BMI.) The CDC recommends at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week to cut the risk of heart disease.
FOODS: Eat a healthy diet low in sodium and saturated fat and high in fruits and vegetables.
ALCOHOL: Drink alcohol moderately, no more than two drinks per day on average for men and no more than one drink per day on average for women.

Calculate your risk You can test your risk of heart attack by calculating factors such as age, weight, and eating habits. The Mayo Clinic has a calculator at mayoclinic.com.

Also, the American Heart Association Web site has a risk assessment at americanheart.org.

Heart attack warning signs

Chest pain or discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to have other symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Stroke warning signs

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, Mayo Clinic.