Prevention
If you have any of the risk factors, conditions or habits, eliminating these risk factors hugely decreases your risk of a heart attack. Most of these can be reduced by a change in lifestyle such as to:
Talk with your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit. Quitting smoking has immediate effects; within six months of quitting, your risk of heart disease reduces to that of non-smoker. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke if possible.
Consult with your doctor about what types of activities are safest for you.
If you are obese or overweight, work out a weight loss plan with your doctor.
- High-fiber, high-protein, low saturated and trans-saturated fat and low-sodium diets reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. A healthy diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains as well as healthy oils, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, and fat-free or low-fat milk products.
- Some common heart healthy diets include the DASH and Mediterranean Diet. Learn more about these diets.
- For healthy recipes, visit Emory Healthcare Recipes for Wellness
If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Not more than 1-2 drinks per day for males and one drink for females
Not more than 1-2 cups of coffee a day.
If you have diabetes, try to control your blood sugar through diet and exercise or take medication if needed.
For high cholesterol and high blood pressure, a change in diet is possible, and if that’s not effective, your doctor can always prescribe you medication. Total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL (LDL should be under 160 mg/dL, HDL should be over 40 mg/dL for men and 50 for women, and Tryglycerides, under 150 mg/dL). Normal blood pressure should be 120/80 or lower. Make sure you maintain regular visits to the doctor.
Find ways to relax whether it is meditation or physical exercise and take some time out to do these activities during the day. Always have a positive attitude.
The American Heart Association recommends screenings starting from age 40 for most people, but as young as age 20 if they have significant risk factors or family history of risk factors/heart conditions, so as to detect heart problems in its early stages. Also, this includes maintaining regular doctor visits.
Learn more about The Emory Heart & Vascular Center’s Heart Disease Prevention Program.
To prevent increased heart damage, having an emergency plan in place can also make provision of treatment more efficient. If you think you are having a heart attack, call 911 right away! The earlier you get help, the better your chances are for recovery.
Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown are the only accredited chest pain centers from the Society of Chest Pain Centers in metropolitan Atlanta. Both hospitals are accredited with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention). This indicates a higher level of emergency cardiac care services.
Both hospitals have 24-hour emergency cardiac care - keep the phone numbers handy.
Emory University Hospital - 404-712-2000
Emory University Hospital Midtown - 404-686-4411
