Cardiovascular disease is a term that describes hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attack, stroke, and other disorders related to the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular disease causes more deaths in America than anything else, but even people with high risks are successfully finding ways to improve their heart health! CommuniCare patients with hypertension are doing a better job of controlling their blood pressure than the average hypertensive American. If you are one of those individuals with a secret to share, please let your care team know what is going well!
The following factors increase the risks for cardiovascular disease:
- Being overweight
- Having high blood pressure
- Having high cholesterol
- Having high blood sugar
- having a close relative with cardiovascular disease
Check with your CommuniCare Health provider to understand your risks for cardiovascular disease. If you struggle with cardiovascular disease, consider dropping into one of our group medical visits for people with diabetes and other chronic conditions. You will leave with free fruits and vegetables and recipes to help you eat a heart-healthy diet, and you might even learn some new strategies for living a healthy lifestyle. Your heart will thank you for it!
