Reduce your risk for heart disease with these heart-healthy lifestyle tips

About 90% of middle-aged people and more than 74% of young adults have one or more risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, or being a smoker or overweight. Having multiple risk factors increases your risk for heart disease.

“February is American Heart Month, which is always a great time of year to remind our friends, families, and neighbors of what they can do to help reduce their risk for heart disease,” says cardiologist Phillip Horwitz, MD, director of the University of Iowa Heart and Vascular Center. “The more you know about heart disease, the better chance you have of beating it.”

Follow these heart-healthy lifestyle tips and encourage others to join you:

• Be more physically active. 
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat a nutritious diet.
• Quit smoking.
• Reduce your stress.
• Get enough quality sleep.
• Track your heart health stats. 

In addition to following a heart-healthy lifestyle, feeling connected with others and having positive, close relationships can benefit your overall health, including your blood pressure and weight. Having people in our lives who motivate and care for us helps, as do feelings of closeness and companionship.

Changing heart care and changing lives

The UI Heart and Vascular Center is home to more than 60 of the nation’s most experienced and highly trained cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and vascular surgeons using state-of-the-art technology.

Patients can access the latest heart and vascular treatment options and procedures at the main campus outpatient clinic at UI Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, at the easy-to-access UI Health Care–Iowa River Landing clinic in Coralville, or at one of the 11 UI Health Care outpatient clinics across eastern Iowa.

New cardiology patients can be seen within 48 hours of requesting an appointment, ensuring the right treatment at the right time by the right specialists.