Managing Your Risks
Two out of three Canadian women have one or more major risk factors for heart disease. The more risk factors you have, the higher your chances of developing heart disease.
Some risk factors — such as age, family history and ethnicity — can’t be controlled. However, a great many — such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, being overweight, diabetes, smoking — can be influenced. Focus on making changes in these areas through nutrition, physical activity and stress management.
To help, we’ve produced a series of informative articles discussing these five common risk factors, why they are significant and what you can do to reduce that risk.
Cholesterol
Did you know that reducing 1 point of cholesterol is equal to a 25% reduction in the risk of heart disease?
Blood pressure
9 in 10 Canadians will develop high blood pressure or hypertension during their lives.
Weight management
Did you know that maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things that you can do for your heart?
Diabetes
A woman with type 2 diabetes has eight times the risk of heart disease than a women without diabetes. Nearly two million Canadians have been diagnosed with diabetes – and many more don’t even know they have it?
Smoking
Smoking cigarettes can affect your heart health and could increase your risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 50%