ASK THE EXPERT
Q
How can I decrease
my risk of having a
heart attack?
A
There are many ways
to decrease your risk
of having a heart attack. Smoking,
obesity, physical inactivity, high
cholesterol, high blood pressure,
diet and diabetes are all risk fac-
tors for heart disease that you can
modify with lifestyle changes. The
more risk factors you have, the
higher the risk of having a heart
attack, and the more important it is
for you to change your lifestyle.
L O S E W E I G H T
If you are considered overweight or
obese, bringing down your weight
by exercising (at least 150 min-
utes per week) and by decreasing
your caloric intake will help lower
your risks. A diet rich in fruit and
vegetables is helpful in weight loss
as these foods are full of fiber and
vitamins and low in calories, and
make the body feel more full.
K I C K B U T T S
Smoking also increases your risk
of heart disease. The benefits of
quitting appear only a few months
after, and in just a few years your
heart can appear as healthy as that
of a nonsmoker. Ask your doctor for
help.
If your blood pressure is running
consistently over 140/90, your risk
of heart disease increases. Diet or
a blood pressure medication can
decrease your risk of heart disease.
You should also get your cho-
lesterol checked and discuss the
results with your doctor. Good
blood sugar control is essential to
decrease the risk of heart prob-
lems. If you have diabetes, be sure
to have a good relationship with
your doctor and talk about what
your target A1C levels are. Meet
with your doctor about every three
months to make sure your blood
sugar levels are well-controlled.
Follow a healthy diet and get
150 minutes of exercise per week
to help control your blood sugar
levels.
Andrea Dinning, D.O.
Kootenai Clinic’s Internal Medicine
(208) 625-4515
10
WHAT
ABOUT
ASPIRIN?
Daily aspirin might be help-
ful to decrease your risk of
having a heart attack. As-
pirin does have some risks,
however, so talk to your doctor
before starting it. Daily aspirin
is generally more helpful for
people with multiple risk fac-
tors for a heart attack and not
recommended for people at
lower risk.
Talk to your doctor about
your risk factors so you
can be informed
and make the
changes
needed.
