Overview
Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of death in the United States. Major risk factors for heart disease are smoking, physical inactivity, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol and obesity. These risk factors, and the treatments for them, are interrelated. For example, exercise reduces the risk of heart attack by promoting weight loss and decreasing stress; weight loss lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, further reducing risk; quitting smoking lowers blood pressure; and so on. Implementing these lifestyle changes dramatically reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in the future.
Note: This topic was prepared to help consumers find reliable health resources on the web. This site is not responsible for the information on other sites. The information here — and on all websites — is not intended to be a substitute for care by a health professional.
Recommended Reading
- American Heart Association
- The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Information for patients and the public about high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart attack, heart disease and obesity and physical activity.
Are You at Risk for Heart Disease?
According to the American Heart Association, several factors that increase your risk for heart disease have been identified. Some of them can be changed, treated or modified, and some cannot. Controlling as many of these risk factors as possible is the best way to a healthy heart. Find out your risk for heart disease with the following links:
- Heart Attack/Coronary Heart Disease/Metabolic Syndrome Risk Assessment, American Heart Association
- Read about risk factors for heart disease, take a risk quiz and learn more about reducing your risks for heart disease and heart attack.
Reduce Your Risk or Manage Your Heart Disease
- Manage Your Cholesterol, HealthInfoSource.com
- Too much cholesterol in the blood can increase the risk for hardening of the arteries, which can lead to coronary artery disease, heart attack or stroke. This collection of links can help you understand and manage your cholesterol.
- Maintain or Achieve a Healthy Weight, HealthInfoSource.com
- This collection of links can help you maintain a healthy weight with a good diet and regular physical activity.
- Quit Smoking, HealthInfoSource.com
- Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your heart and overall health. This collection of links can help you get started.
- Understand and Manage Your Blood Pressure, HealthInfoSource.com
- High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a risk factor for heart disease and increases your chance of having a stroke. Through these links, learn more about blood pressure and how to manage high blood pressure.
- HeartHub, American Heart Association
- This is the AHA's patient portal for information, tools and resources about cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Local Resources
- Local Statistics on Cardiovascular Screenings, Community Health Survey
- Information and statistics about heart disease screenings in northern Larimer County, from the Health District of Northern Larimer County's triennial Community Health Survey.
- Poudre Valley Health Video, Heart Center of the Rockies
- Jenifer Bowman, a registered dietitian with Heart Center of the Rockies, talks about healthy sodium intake. The higher your sodium intake, the higher your blood pressure.
- Poudre River Public Library District
- Search the library collection for books about heart disease, or use the library's health, sciences and technology databases.
Still Looking?
- Best Health Sites
- Ready to explore the World Wide Web of health information on your own? This collection of web links, organized by site type, will help you find the health information you're looking for.
- Health and Healthcare Statistics
- Looking for health and healthcare statistics at the local, state and national level? This collection of web links will help you find the health data you're looking for. Great for researchers, grant writers, students and the curious.
- Suggest a Resource
- Did we miss something? Submit a website or other resource for consideration.
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