Steps to Take Care of Your Heart
10/07/25
Reducing Risk Factors
Discover how to calculate and reduce your risk for heart disease — and take control of your heart health with simple, science-backed strategies for everyday life.
How to calculate your risk for heart disease
Calculate your risk for heart disease using this online resource or ask your primary care provider to calculate your risk.
Let your physician know about other factors that increase your risk:
- Family history of early heart disease (males age <55; females age <65)
- Primary hypercholesterolemia (very high cholesterol – LDL (bad) cholesterol >160 mg/dl)
- For people who have had a heart event, LDL cholesterol levels between 30-70 mg/dL is ideal. In terms of HDL cholesterol, typically the higher this number, the better. For women, the goal is >50mg/dL and for men, the goal is >40mg/dL.
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g., psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or HIV/AIDS)
- High-risk race/ethnicity (e.g., South Asian ancestry)
- History of premature menopause (age <40)
- History of pregnancy conditions (e.g., preeclampsia) that increase your risk for later heart disease
How to reduce your risk of heart disease
Be active
Aim for at least 150 minutes of weekly activity. It not only helps you reduce your risk for a heart attack, but helps you manage your weight, manage stress, and manage your blood pressure and cholesterol too.
Eat healthfully
Include at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Eat more plant-based foods, choose healthy fats and avoid added sugars.
Don't smoke
If you are a smoker, quitting is considered to be the single best thing you can do to improve your health. Take steps to avoid secondhand smoke.
Maintain a healthy body weight
Even a small amount of weight loss (between 5% and 10% of your current weight) will help you lower your risk for a heart attack.
Know your numbers
Manage your blood pressure (ideally <120/80), blood glucose (fasting <100mg/dL) and cholesterol (HDL or "good" cholesterol >50 and LDL "bad" cholesterol <100).
Talk to your doctor regularly
Discuss your personal risk factors for heart disease, including your age and family history. Based on your overall risk for heart disease, your doctor may recommend preventative medications such as aspirin, blood pressure medication or a cholesterol-lowering agent.
Talking to a Preventive Cardiologist
If you are at high risk for heart disease, consider a visit to a preventive cardiologist. Preventive cardiology services include:
- A comprehensive cardiovascular examination and evaluation of cardiac risk factors
- Advanced blood tests with results provided during your appointment
- Lipid management, including statin intolerance
- Nutrition assessment and recommendations
- Cardiac imaging – commonly called a heart scan, a cardiac calcium score is a noninvasive X-ray technology with a computed tomography (CT) scanner to determine the amount of calcium (plaque) that is in the arteries of your heart. A heart scan gives you an inside view of your heart's health complete with a personalized calcium score. Learn more about heart scans and how to make an appointment here.
- Opportunity for participation in clinical trials of new therapies
