About Magazines Covington to Madison - May 2017 | Page 25

LIVING BETTER WITH PIEDMONT
PIEDMONT CARDIOLOGIST
OFFERS TIPS FOR REDUCING
HEART DISEASE RISK
E
very minute, lower blood pressure increasing length of time
someone in the and cholesterol and help since quitting.”
United States dies control diabetes.
from a heart- family history. Dr. Mekonnen
Maintaining a
Being aware of
related condition. Taking healthy weight. Obesity also advises patients to be
preventive actions early on and being overweight can aware of any family history
is crucial to reducing one’s increase your risk for heart of heart conditions such as
risk for the leading cause of disease. Effective strategies early (premature) coronary
death for men and women in for maintaining a healthy artery disease or heart
the United States, according weight include eating attacks, heart failure and
to Dr. Girum Mekonnen, MD, healthier snacks, with sudden cardiac deaths.
cardiologist at Piedmont controlled portions and
Heart of Conyers. staying active. pressure, high cholesterol,
and smoking are among the
“Even though there
A heart-healthy
High blood
are effective treatments diet. When coupled with most common risks for heart
available for heart regular exercise, a heart- disease, according to the
conditions, these treatments healthy diet in proper Centers for Disease Control
address the illness after it portions can lower your and Prevention. Almost half
has happened,” Dr. Mekonnen cholesterol, help control of everyone in the United
said. “It’s important to focus your blood pressure and States (49 percent) has at
on prevention because blood sugar levels, and least one of these risks. Dr.
this helps to address the maintain a healthy weight Mekonnen said, “It is very
problems before illness – all of which are beneficial important for patients to
occurs.” for the heart. know their individual risk
factors and work closely with

So, what can you
Avoiding tobacco
do to reduce your risk? Dr. products. No amount their doctor to reduce their
Mekonnen recommends: of smoking is safe. “It’s risk of future heart disease.”
never too late to quit,” Dr.
activity. Exercising on a Mekonnen said. “Your risk information about
regular basis has many for heart disease begins preventing heart disease or
benefits for your heart, to decrease as soon as to schedule an appointment
like making it stronger you quit smoking and with Dr. Mekonnen, visit
and healthier. It also can continues to fall with piedmont.org/heart.
Regular physical
For more
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