6 / 8
Do you
your
heart? Ask your
doctor about
your risk factors.
About 49 percent of Americans have at least one of
the major risk factors for heart disease—high blood
pressure, high LDL (bad) cholesterol and smoking.
You can reduce your risk
of heart attack by this
amount by controlling
your blood pressure,
cholesterol and weight
and avoiding smoking.
Cardiovascular
disease is
responsible
for 1 in every
3 deaths in
the U.S.
HEART DISEASE.
It’s the leading cause of death among men and women in
the U.S. In fact, more than 1,600 Americans die of heart disease every day.
You can help get that number down by keeping these numbers at healthy levels: your
cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and weight. ese four factors, along with ciga-
rette smoking, have a big e ect on your heart health.
Work with your primary care provider to learn more about your risk factors for heart
disease. Together, the two of you can come up with ways to keep your ticker in top form.
The number of
American adults
who have cholesterol
levels at or above 240 mg/dL—
raising their risk for heart disease.
Sources: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
A 10-minute walk,
three times a
day, ve days a
week, can help
you protect your
heart.
Blood pressure reading that indicates high blood pressure,
a major risk factor for heart disease.
The number of
Americans every
year who have a
heart attack.
Listen to
your heart
735,000
minutes
times
a day
days a
week
6
q
hrhs.org