As seen in the Chicago Sun-Times
Published Febraury 10, 2009
By Monifa Thomas

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, affecting an estimated 1 in 3 adults. Even so, there are still plenty of misconceptions about who's at risk and what can be done to prevent it.
Six things to keep in mind:
 
Dr. Michael McGill, a cardiologist at Central DuPage Hospital, said heart disease is "one of the most preventable illnesses we have."

How to lower your risk

• Know your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose numbers.
• Quit smoking.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Get more exercise.
• Get more sleep.
• Try to lower your stress.
• Drink moderate amounts of alcohol.

Heart disease kills more women than men. Women account for 51 percent of all heart disease deaths in the United States. They also tend to experience subtler symptoms of heart attack. Instead of chest pain and sweating -- the classic warning signs -- women might feel nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath or pain in the shoulder or jaw. 

It isn't just a problem for the middle-aged. True, middle-aged men and postmenopausal women are much more prone to heart attack. But unhealthy lifestyle habits in your 20s, 30s and even younger set the stage for developing heart disease later.

Having normal cholesterol numbers doesn't mean you're safe. Cholesterol is just one thing to consider. High blood pressure, lack of exercise, family history, being a smoker, having diabetes and being overweight are also major risk factors. 

Cholesterol-lowering drugs aren't a magic bullet. "Unfortunately, a lot of people think that if they're taking medications for cholesterol, then it's OK to forget the really obvious things," said Dr. Robert Bonow, chief of cardiology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. That's sort of like putting new tires on a car without fixing the engine, said Dr. Michael McGill, a cardiologist at Central DuPage Hospital.

Heart attacks aren't the result of "clogged pipes." The real culprit is the sudden rupture of plaque -- small deposits of fat and cholesterol -- inside the walls of arteries, McGill said.

Heart disease isn't inevitable. Heart disease is "one of the most preventable illnesses we have," McGill said. It's estimated that healthy lifestyle changes can lower the risk of heart disease by about 80 percent.