Lower your risk of another heart attack by managing the risk factors you can change — blood pressure, cholesterol, diet, exercise, stress, and smoking.

To manage heart disease, your doctor may have asked you to make lifestyle changes to control your risk factors. Risk factors are the things that play a role in developing a disease. How will that help now that you may have already had a heart event? According to the World Health Organization, one in four heart attack survivors will have another heart attack — but up to 80% of heart attacks may be prevented through lifestyle modifications and cardiovascular medications, which reduce your risk of future events. So how do you control your risk factors and reduce your risk of heart events?

First, know your risk factors. There are two types of risk factors: modifiable and non-modifiable. Non-modifiable risk factors are those we do not have much control over — for example, our age, sex, family history, and genetics. The good news is that we do have control over our modifiable risk factors; through lifestyle changes and professional help, you can help decrease your risk of further cardiovascular disease, another heart event, or a procedure. Your doctor may have asked you about family history and genetics, but make sure you are aware of your modifiable risk factors — the things that you can change. The modifiable risk factors for heart disease are: physical inactivity, diet, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stress (including sleep), obesity, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, poor oral hygiene, and lack of vitamin D.

Second, identify ways to work on your risk factors. Regular physical activity: being active helps our heart stay strong, so try to walk, bike, dance, or move for at least 30 minutes every day. Remember, being active doesn't have to feel like a chore — find something you enjoy and invite friends or family to join. Healthy eating: choose foods that are good for your heart. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats, and avoid foods high in unhealthy fats like fast food, fried foods, and packaged snacks. It's also important to limit your intake of sugary drinks and foods. High blood pressure can be managed through regular exercise, medications, and stress management; it also helps to stop smoking. High cholesterol can be lowered through a healthy diet that is low in saturated and trans fats, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking — medication may also be prescribed to manage cholesterol levels.

Managing stress: sometimes life can get stressful, and it affects our heart health. Find healthy ways to manage stress, like seeking support, practicing relaxation, or doing activities you enjoy. Make sure you get eight to nine hours of sleep each night; it's important to take care of your mental wellbeing too. Maintaining a healthy weight: being overweight can put extra stress on our hearts, so eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly; if you're not sure whether you have a healthy weight, ask your doctor for help. Diabetes: monitoring your blood sugar is important for a healthy heart — limit excess sugar in your diet and exercise regularly to help control your blood sugar. Quit smoking: smoking is really bad for our hearts. It damages the blood vessels and increases the chances of having a heart attack. If you smoke, it's never too late to quit — talk to your doctor or healthcare professional for help and resources. Alcohol: reduce your alcohol intake, and seek help from your doctor if you need support.

Third, make sure you have regular checkups with your doctor. Visiting your doctor regularly is vital for keeping your heart healthy. Your doctor can check your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other important numbers, and you can follow their advice on how to manage these numbers to reduce your heart disease risk.

By taking control of your controllable risk factors, you can reduce your chances of having another heart attack. A healthy heart allows you to enjoy life to the fullest, and small changes in our daily habits lead to big improvements in our heart health. Thank you for watching "Reducing Your Risk for Heart Disease." You can chat with your care manager in the Movn app if you have any questions.

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