How Can You Prevent Heart Disease?

by Dr. Jeff Sparling, INTEGRIS cardiologist

Heart disease is the #1 killer in the United States, yet it can be preventable. Knowing what you can do to stop heart disease and the symptoms to watch out for are the first steps in fighting this deadly disease. Dr. Jeff Sparling, an interventional cardiologist with the INTEGRIS Heart Hospital, explains the risk factors and what you can do to prevent heart disease.

Hi, my name's Dr. Jeff Sparling, a cardiologist with INTEGRIS Health. Today, I'd like to talk with you about prevention of heart disease. Heart disease is one of the most devastating causes of death and long-term disability in the United States, but it's also one of the most preventable. There are some risk factors for heart disease that you can't do anything about, things like your family history. However, many risk factors are modifiable. Eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight are very important, as is regular exercise. Monitoring your blood pressure and ensuring that your blood pressure is not high is also very important. For those of you that are tobacco smokers, quitting tobacco can reduce your risk of heart attack back to that of a non-smoker within a month. Excessive alcohol intake can increase your risk of heart disease. High cholesterol is a very important factor in heart disease and stroke that can be modified with exercise and medication. If your doctor has prescribed medication for high blood pressure or cholesterol, it is important to take it as both help reduce your risk of heart attack. If you have concerns about heart attack or stroke, I encourage you to talk about it with your doctor. Thanks for your time.