Featured forum: What you can do
to prevent heart disease
Identifying your risk factors and learning what you can do about them are the first steps toward maintaining a healthy heart.
Whether or not you develop heart disease is not entirely the luck of the draw from the genetic card deck. There are several things you can do to help prevent heart disease. And it’s never too early to start taking care of your heart.
Assess your risk factors
Start by learning whether you are at risk for heart disease. If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, if you smoke or lead a sedentary lifestyle, you are at risk. Family history of heart disease is another risk to recognize.
“People who have risk factors should at least check with their primary-care doctor. If you are a smoker, discontinue smoking as soon as possible. Salem Hospital can help you,” advises Raghu Kamineni, M.D., F.A.C.C., the speaker for February’s community health forum.
Dr. Kamineni recommends that you see a cardiologist if you have more than two risk factors, especially if you have high cholesterol and a strong family history of heart disease.
Take steps to prevent it
The best way to prevent heart disease is to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. If you’re a smoker, join a smoking-cessation program. If you have high cholesterol, learn how to control it. If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about ways to lower it.
While these steps are key, nothing is better for preventing the disease than eating a proper diet and getting regular exercise. The good news is that diet and exercise are lifestyle choices you can control.
Become informed
According to Dr. Kamineni, “Death from a cardiovascular event is the number one killer in the United States today. It’s important for people with multiple risk factors to understand that and take preventative measures before a problem arises.”
You can learn about recent advances in cardiac healthcare and the state-of-the-art technology that Salem Hospital has for our heart patients at the educational and interactive Heart Fair and Forum on February 23. Take a stroll through the “Cardiac Continuum of Care” or wander “Lifestyle Lane.” Then hear from Dr. Kamineni, who is new to our community. Dr. Kamineni has authored two textbooks and has experience with some of the most advanced cardiovascular techniques available today.
Learn more
- Attend our Annual Heart Fair and Forum, “Cardiac Care: A Promising Future,” presented by Raghu Kamineni, M.D., Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. in Wedel Auditorium, basement of Salem Hospital. Call 503-561-5639 to register.
- Visit our Heart Services Web site
