Dallas County Living Well Magazine Summer 2014 | Page 15

Here’s to
Your Heart
By Presbyterian
Heart & Vascular Group

D

id you know that
heart disease is the
number one killer of
both men and women
in the United States?
The statistic is a little alarming, but
there is an up side. You can lower your
chance for heart disease simply by being in-the-know.
By understanding what causes common heart conditions such as heart
attack and stroke, you are one step
closer to being in control of your heart
health. It all starts with knowing your
risk factors for heart disease.

Look Beyond Your DNA
It’s true, some heart disease risks
are in your genes rather than your behavior. If there’s a history of coronary
heart disease (buildup of plaque in the
heart’s arteries) in your immediate
family, studies show that you are 40 to
60% more likely to develop the condition yourself––and run a greater risk
of having a heart attack. But no matter
what genes you are born with, you still
need to pay attention to your lifestyle.
The thought of having a heart attack
can be scary, but certain risk factors
can be controlled by you. At Presbyterian Heart & Vascular Group (PHVG),
we see individuals on a regular basis
who are looking for support in reducing their risk of heart disease. Here
are some of the lifestyle changes we
recommend to help enhance heart
health and conquer heart disease.
Quit smoking. The risk for heart
attack doubles in smokers over nonsmokers. If you smoke, quit. Better
yet, never start.
Improve cholesterol levels. The risk
for heart disease increases as your total amount of cholesterol increases. A
total cholesterol level over 200––with
an HDL or “good” cholesterol level under 40, or an LDL or “bad” cholesterol

Presbyterian Heart & Vascular Group comprises James Park, M.D., David Harper, M.D., Jorge Cheirif, M.D., Carter King, M.D., Parin Parikh, M.D., and Joann
Journigan, M.D.
level over 160––indicates an increased
risk for heart disease. As a cardiologist, my interpretation of cholesterol
values is always individualized. I have
to take into account all of a person’s
risk factors when evaluating them for
heart disease.
Control high blood pressure. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the
most common heart disease risk factor
in the U.S. One in four adults has systolic blood pressure (the upper number) over 140, and/or diastolic blood
pressure (the lower number) over 90,
which is the definition of hypertension.
Again, interpretation of these numbers
should be individualized by a physician. If treatment is warranted, today’s
blood pressure medications are effective, safe and easy to take.
Get active. Mild to moderate
amounts of physical activity can be
beneficial in staving off heart disease.
Even leisure-time activities like gardening or walking can lower your risk.
Eat smart. Fill your plate with foods
low in fat and cholesterol, and boost
your vitamin intake. Antioxidants
and foods such as fish and dark leafy
greens have been proven to lower the
risk for heart disease.
Achieve and maintain a healthy

weight. Excess weight