In New Mexico, heart disease is the leading cause of death, and about 30% of residents have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, major risk factors for heart disease, writes Dr. Lon Abney in a recent Santa Fe New Mexican guest column.
To save lives, preventing heart disease is key.
As a Presbyterian Medical Group cardiologist, the first step he recommends for patients is to understand their current risk for heart disease, which includes several types of heart conditions. To determine risk, there are several assessment tools that look at family history, age and factors. Tests, like stress tests and calcium scans, are also available to see how well the heart functions.
Patients should know their family history, particularly whether close relatives had heart conditions and at what age. Next, it is important to understand lifestyle factors that impact heart disease.
Moving toward a healthier, plant-based diet, stopping smoking and making exercise a daily habit all help to improve heart health. Learn more here.
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