Heart-Healthy Living, Revisited

In recent months, three people in my circle of friends and colleagues have lost loved ones to heart disease. As I thought about a topic for this week's blog, I decided it's worthwhile to remind each of you about lifestyle habits that can protect your heart.

An estimated 70 million Americans have heart disease, which is now the leading cause of death for both men and women. In fact, the American Heart Association reports that heart disease kills more women in the United States than the next six leading causes combined.

It's still true that men have a higher risk than women of suffering a heart attack, but a woman's risk rises as she gets older. Having a sibling, parent, or grandparent who suffered a heart attack at an early age also genetically predisposes some of us to develop heart problems. Risk also varies with race: African-Americans are at greater risk of developing heart disease than Caucasians, for example.

There are many factors that influence someone's risk of developing heart disease, but there are also many ways to lower your risk, whatever it is now. Here's what you can do to ensure you're following a heart-healthy lifestyle:

• If you smoke, even occasionally, stop smoking.

• Visit your health professional routinely to evaluate your risk for heart disease.

• Discuss with your doctor whether there are any vitamin and mineral supplements that could help lower your risk of heart disease.

• Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

• Eat a diet that's low in fat and cholesterol.

• Make exercise a part of your daily schedule.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Lower the amount of stress in your life.

What other heart-healthy habits have you adopted?