Ithaca College

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States.  More people die of heart disease than of AIDS and all cancers combined.  Risk factors of heart disease are conditions or habits that can often times be changed by living a healthier life.  

Some risk factors cannot be changed like age and family history, but important risk factors that you can do something about include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterl, diabetes and pre-diabetes, smoking, being overweight or obese, being physically inactive, having a history of preeclampsia during pregnancy, or eating an unhealthy diet

How do you find out if you are at risk for heart disease?

• Talk to your doctor. Your doctor can be an important partner in setting and reaching goals for heart health, and to help determine your risks during a thorough checkup.
• Speak up. Tell your doctor you want to keep your heart healthy and would like help in achieving that goal. Ask for regular tests and screenings to determine your personal risk factors.
• Keep tabs on treatment. If you are already being treated for heart disease or its risk factors, keep a treatment plan with you. Ask your doctor for help.
• Be open. Answer your doctor’s questions honestly and as fully as you can, even if they may seem fairly personal.
• Keep it simple.  If you do not understand something your doctor says, ask for an explanation in simpler language. Be sure you understand how to take any medication you are given. Bring a friend or relative with you to your appointment to make sure you do not miss any important information.

JOIN US
For more information on Heart Healthy, join Gina Chapman, Director of the Southern Tier American Heart Association, as she presents Life's Simple 7, seven goals to be a healthier YOU! She will be in the Human Resources Conference Room (GL52) from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm on Wednesday, February 11, 2015!