cancer control fall prevention health consumerism mental fitness mental health nutrition physical fitness weight control wellness center

andropause incontinence men's sexuality prostate health women's sexuality kegel exercises

addison's disease arthritis diabetes center eating disorders gout center heart disease caregiving

bookstore ebooks wellness store underwear buying guide product catalogs

what's new heart attacks medications faq cholesterol center resources sex and the heart

what is a heart attack? who's at risk? limiting damage warning signs women and heart attack surviving a heart attack testing reducing the risk facts about CHD

lower high blood pressure reduce high blood cholesterol aim for a healthy weight be physically active each day manage diabetes

home other conditions heart disease heart attacks reducing the risk

reducing heart attack risk

You can reduce your risk of having a heart attack—even if you already have coronary heart disease (CHD) or have had a previous heart attack. The key is to take steps to prevent or control your heart disease risk factors.

Six Key Steps To Reduce Heart Attack Risk

Taking these steps will reduce your risk of having a heart attack:

1. Stop smoking
2. Lower high blood pressure
3. Reduce high blood cholesterol
4. Aim for a healthy weight
5. Be physically active each day
6. Manage diabetes

Choose an item to find out more about that step.

Stop Smoking Cigarettes

Cigarette smoking greatly increases the risk of fatal and nonfatal heart attacks in both men and women. It also increases the risk of a second heart attack among survivors. Women who smoke and use oral contraceptives have an even greater risk than smoking alone. The good news is that quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of heart attack. One year after quitting, the risk drop to about one-half that of current smokers and gradually returns to normal in persons without heart disease. Even among persons with heart disease, the risk also drops sharply one year after quitting smoking and it continues to decline over time but the risk does not return to normal.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved five medications to help you stop smoking and lessen the urge to smoke. They are:

• Bupropion SR - available by prescription
• Nicotine gum - available over-the-counter
• Nicotine inhaler - available by prescription
• Nicotine nasal spray - available by prescription
• Nicotine patch - available by prescription and over-the-counter

All of these medicines will more or less double your chances of quitting and quitting for good. You will find details on this information and more at the Virtual Office of the Surgeon General.

Courtesy of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

26 South Main Street, PMB #162 . Concord, NH 03301 . Phone: 603 397-0103