The Doctor Is In

Are you looking for a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift? Tell your family and friends about these heart healthy habits that can help reduce their risk of heart disease. 

The most common cause of death in the United States is heart disease, which is one of several different heart conditions. Heart disease usually begins with coronary artery disease, which may lead to chest pains, irregular heartbeats, heart attacks or heart failure.

The key to reducing your risk of heart disease is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and manage certain risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. Another risk factor is tobacco usage—both smoking and smokeless tobacco.  

If you have any of these risk factors you increase your chance of developing heart disease.  TRICARE covers clinical preventive services for all beneficiaries including screenings for high blood pressure and cholesterol. If you’re trying to quit using tobacco and looking for help, visit www.ucanquit2.org, TRICARE’s interactive web site that offers coaching services, educational materials, live cessation chats and many other resources. 

Exercise helps you lose weight, lower cholesterol and control high blood pressure. If you add healthy meals with reasonable portion sizes, limit salt and alcohol intake, and cut back on fatty foods you’ll see even greater benefits. Before starting any weight-loss program, talk with your health care provider to get information on nutrition, exercise and other tools to help you succeed. You can find more healthy heart tips at www.tricare.mil/healthyliving.

While early discovery and treatment of disease leads to better health, avoiding problems through healthy lifestyle choices is even better.

Celebrate this Valentine’s Day by taking your health, and the health of your loved ones, to heart.