Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Clark County residents.
Combating heart disease involves adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle and making positive changes to reduce risk factors
Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit.
Quitting tobacco is a process. The Ohio Tobacco Quit Line can help you with each step of the way.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage the heart and blood vessels. But if you don’t get checked for these conditions, you likely won’t know whether you have them. Regular screening tests can tell you what your numbers are and whether you need to take action.
If you have a condition such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, talk with your health care team. Your doctor may prescribe medicines and recommend lifestyle changes. Make sure to take your medicines exactly as prescribed, and follow a healthy-lifestyle plan.
If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels carefully.
Talk with your health care team about treatment options. Your doctor may recommend certain lifestyle changes to help keep your blood sugar under control. These actions will help reduce your risk for heart disease.
Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
For adults, the Surgeon General recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking or bicycling, every week.
Children and adolescents should get 1 hour of physical activity every day.
Click here to learn more about staying active and heart healthy.
