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You have heard people say "heart disease runs in my family so there is nothing I can do about it." Is that true? Well, there are uncontrollable risk factors such as family history of heart disease and age. Let's focus on what we CAN control:

Cigarette smoking. If you smoke, quitting now can lower your risk for heart disease. Talk with your healthcare provider. Your provider can suggest ways to help you be successful in quitting.

Being overweight. This raises your risk for heart disease. To determine if you are overweight, your health care provider can measure your height and weight and give you a number called the body mass index or BMI.

High blood pressure. Have you heard this called "the silent killer"? It is for a reason. Many people with hypertension or high blood pressure have no symptoms. So be sure to have this checked on a regular basis.

High cholesterol. Do you know your numbers? A simple blood test can determine your cholesterol levels. If elevated, seek advice on how you can improve these numbers through improving your lifestyle. Diet and exercise changes can improve these numbers. Talk with your provider about how to get started.

Physical inactivity. Many studies show the healthiest people are people that exercise an hour a day, seven days a week. Seem overwhelming to you? Try for a goal of at least 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise weekly. This is equivalent to less than 3 episodes of American Idol weekly and most people are making time for their television programs, right? So make exercise the same priority.

Manage your stress. Being under stress causes chemicals to be released in your body that raise your pulse and blood pressure. Learn how to manage your stress in healthy ways. How about exercise, for example? If you are unsure how to deal with your stress, talk with your healthcare provider.

We may not be able to control what we inherit, but we CAN modify many risk factors as discussed above. New Years resolutions have a tendency to fade with time. Don't let that happen to you.


Christina L. Jones, PA-C
Family Practice