Your heart beats approximately 35 million times each year, sending vital oxygen to every cell in your body from your brain stem to your big toe. The heart is basically an electrically driven pump. Activated by a signal from special cardiac nerve tissue, strong cardiac muscle pushes blood to the lungs to be recharged with oxygen and then out to the body where the cells are waiting for fuel.

Keeping your heart strong and healthy is critical to your overall health. Sadly, even with recent advances in procedures and medications, there are still more than a million heart attacks every year in the U.S. Know your risk of heart disease and start making the changes you need to stay healthy. Some risk factors cannot be changed such as gender – more men than women have heart disease. Family history of heart disease is also a signal that you need to have regular checkups and be extra careful to avoid other risk factors.

• Lack of exercise – a sedentary life style weakens many body systems. It is well established that exercise helps prevent and fight heart disease.
• Smoking – There are many ways to quit smoking. Old Hook Medical doctors can help you quit permanently. Check out: www.planmyquit.com/oldhookmedical
• High blood pressure – Diet and exercise are closely related to blood pressure levels. Have yours checked regularly and if you are prescribed a medication to help lower your pressure, be sure to take it regularly.
• High cholesterol levels – The only way to know if your cholesterol is high is to have it checked by a doctor since high cholesterol has no symptoms. Lifestyle changes such as diet and e xercise can help bring it down. Avoid high fat foods such as meat and dairy that contain saturated fats. There are also many effective medications that may be prescribed when diet and exercise are not enough.

Think about your risk for heart disease and then take action by calling for an appointment with your OHM primary care physician or Dr. Joel Jacowitz, OHM's Board-certified Cardiologist.