Primary Prevention

Understand what types of risk factors you can control and the importance in knowing them so you and your healthcare team can make a plan to change them.

Understand the importance of working with your healthcare provider to identify and control your risk factors, in order to lower the risk of serious complications of vascular disease.

Learn how various lifestyle changes can help to lessen your vascular disease risk factors and improve your overall health.

Watch this to recognize the serious complications metabolic syndrome can cause, understand the parts of metabolic syndrome and what lifestyle changes you can make to help manage it.

Aim for an overall healthy eating pattern that includes whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and cooking in non-tropical oils such as olive and canola.

Aim for an overall healthy eating pattern that includes whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and cooking in non-tropical oils such as olive and canola. © AHA

Adults should get 2 ½ hours of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. Kids should have 60 minutes every day, including play and structured activities.

Adults should get 2 ½ hours of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. Kids should have 60 minutes every day, including play and structured activities. © AHA

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits. Body mass index, a numerical value of your weight in relation to your height, is a useful gauge. Optimal BMI is 25. You can calculate it online or consult a health care professional.

Keeping your blood pressure within acceptable ranges can keep you healthier longer. Levels less than 120/80 mm Hg are optimal. High blood pressure is defined as 130-139 mm Hg systolic pressure (the top number in a reading) or 80-89 mm Hg diastolic pressure (bottom number).

Keeping your blood pressure within acceptable ranges can keep you healthier longer. Levels less than 120/80 mm Hg are optimal. High blood pressure is defined as 130-139 mm Hg systolic pressure (the top number in a reading) or 80-89 mm Hg diastolic pressure (bottom number). © AHA

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits. Body mass index, a numerical value of your weight in relation to your height, is a useful gauge. Optimal BMI is 25. You can calculate it online or consult a health care professional. © AHA

High levels of non-HDL, or "bad," cholesterol can lead to heart disease. Your health care professional can consider non-HDL cholesterol as the preferred number to monitor, rather than total cholesterol, because it can be measured without fasting beforehand and is reliably calculated among all people.

High levels of non-HDL, or "bad," cholesterol can lead to heart disease. Your health care professional can consider non-HDL cholesterol as the preferred number to monitor, rather than total cholesterol, because it can be measured without fasting beforehand and is reliably calculated among all people. © AHA

Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose (or blood sugar) that our bodies use as energy. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage your heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. As part of testing, monitoring hemoglobin A1c can better reflect long-term control in people with diabetes or prediabetes.

Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose (or blood sugar) that our bodies use as energy. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage your heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. As part of testing, monitoring hemoglobin A1c can better reflect long-term control in people with diabetes or prediabetes. © AHA

Use of inhaled nicotine delivery products, which includes traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vaping, is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., including about a third of all deaths from heart disease. And about a third of U.S. children ages 3-11 are exposed to secondhand smoke or vaping.

Use of inhaled nicotine delivery products, which includes traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vaping, is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., including about a third of all deaths from heart disease. And about a third of U.S. children ages 3-11 are exposed to secondhand smoke or vaping. © AHA

Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Children require more: 10-16 hours for ages 5 and younger, including naps; 9-12 hours for ages 6-12; and 8-10 hours for ages 13-18. Adequate sleep promotes healing, improves brain function and reduces the risk for chronic diseases. © AHA

Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Children require more: 10-16 hours for ages 5 and younger, including naps; 9-12 hours for ages 6-12; and 8-10 hours for ages 13-18. Adequate sleep promotes healing, improves brain function and reduces the risk for chronic diseases. © AHA

Now is the time to stand together to end stroke, because 80% of strokes are preventable. Together we are empowering Americans to live healthier lives, to stay mentally sharp, because the right care right away can make all the difference. Together we can help make sure that everyone knows the symptoms, and knows to take fast action, because more than 7 million Americans are stroke survivors. Together we are helping them beat the odds. We are enhancing our ability to support survivors, loved ones, and caregivers. Together we're rebuilding lives. Together we are spreading the word. Strokes are preventable, strokes are treatable, and strokes are beatable. Today we stand together to end stroke.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of five risk factors that can lead to heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other health problems. © AHA

Veterans report higher rates of CVD conditions than non-veterans. Veterans also reported higher numbers of CVD conditions at younger ages than non-veteran counterparts. © AHA

An A-Z glossary for heart and stroke terminology and care. © AHA

Learn the steps to take to receive an accurate blood pressure reading. A printable blood pressure tracker is provided. © AHA

Your health care professional has prescribed medicine to help lower your blood pressure. Depending on your risk and blood pressure levels, you may need one or more types of medicine to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. © AHA

Learn the various lifestyle changes you can make to help control high blood pressure.

Learn how stress and high blood pressure are related.

This program encourages people to monitor their blood pressure regularly and how to do so properly to help them know if they have it under control.

This video offers detailed instructions on how to measure your own blood pressure, including tips on timing, equipment, and approach.

Learn about some simple steps to controlling hypertension.

In the U.S. African Americans have a higher prevalence of high blood pressure than other racial and ethnic groups. Understand what blood pressure is, how high blood pressure can affect you, and what can be done about your blood pressure. © AHA

High blood pressure means the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be. Understand blood pressure numbers and how they are categorized. Learn if you are at a risk of developing high blood pressure and what you can do if you have it. © AHA

By treating high blood pressure, you can help reduce your risk for a stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. Know what steps you can take to treat high blood pressure and the lifestyle changes you can make to do so. © AHA

Measure your blood pressure twice a day and document your results in this log. Know what your blood pressure goal is and follow the helpful tips to receive the best results. © AHA

Review this sheet to learn how to get an accurate blood pressure reading and to understand in what blood pressure category your reading falls. © AHA

Understand how folic acid can help you lower your risk of a heart attack.

Millions of American adults have cholesterol levels higher than the recommended range. Managing your cholesterol is critical to good health. Learn the difference between good and bad cholesterol, and how exercise and diet make a difference.

Watch this to learn about cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease and ways you can reduce your risk.

High cholesterol can sometimes be treated with a change in diet or increased exercise. Find out what can make a difference.

Making changes to diet and increasing exercise doesn't always lower high cholesterol, doctors often add medications to help reach the goal. Find out about the different options available.

Eating healthy foods, losing weight if you need to, and being physically active can reduce your cholesterol. Some people may also need to take medicine. Your doctor and nurses will help you set a plan for reducing your cholesterol and keeping yourself healthy! © AHA

You can make lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol. You can eat heart-healthy foods, reach and maintain a healthy weight, be physically active and not smoke. Some people also need to take medicine. © AHA

High cholesterol, high blood pressure and being overweight are major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Understand that it's important to know your numbers, what you can do to lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and how to manage your weight. © AHA

High cholesterol can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. If you're 20 or older, you should have your traditional risk factors (including cholesterol) checked every four to six years. If certain factors put you at risk, or you already have heart disease, your doctor may ask you to check it more often. © AHA

If your doctor decided you need cholesterol-lowering medicine, it's because you're at high risk for heart attack or stroke. Treatment usually combines healthy lifestyle changes, including diet and physical activity, and medicine. © AHA