Need to Know

A heart-to-heart on cardiovascular disease: Make simple changes to help you beat the odds against heart disease, a leading cause of death.

• Get smoke-free
  Quit smoking and stay clear of cigarette smoke to lower your risk of several types of cardiovascular disease
• Watch what you eat
  Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, and avoid fats from meat, dairy, and processed foods high in hydrogenated oils
• Stay active
  Couch potatoes have increased cardiovascular disease risk, so make sure you get regular exercise
• Get tested
  See your doctor to find out if you have problems with high blood pressure or high blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, or glucose