How Can I Prevent or Delay Coronary Artery Disease
Preventing CAD begins with knowing which risk factors you have and taking action. Remember, your chance of developing CAD increases with the number of risk factors you have.
Know your family history of health problems related to CAD. If you or someone in your family has CAD, be sure to tell your doctor. Make sure everyone in your family is getting enough exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight.
By controlling your risk factors with lifestyle changes and medications, you may prevent or slow the development of CAD.
CAD can cause serious complications, but by following your doctor's advice and changing your habits, you can prevent or reduce the chance of:
Sudden cardiac death
A heart attack and permanent damage to your heart muscle
Reduced oxygen to your heart causing damage
Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia).
If you have any other health conditions, it is important that you follow your doctor's directions to treat these conditions. By staying as healthy as possible, you can lower your risk for CAD and its complications.
