Tips for Preventing Heart Disease

February is National American Heart Month. Heart disease is said to be the silent killer, and unless it has already been diagnosed, it can be difficult if not impossible to see it coming. Of course, there are certain things that put you at a greater risk of developing heart disease. Sadly, a lot of people who already have a heart condition aren’t aware of it. It’s not until they have a stroke or heart attack that they realize something is wrong. By this time, it can be too late.

If your doctor didn’t properly diagnose your heart disease, you may benefit from talking to an experienced Birmingham medical malpractice lawyer.

Certain People Are at Greater Risk of Developing Heart Disease

While anyone could potentially develop heart disease, some people are at a greater risk than others. The two things that put us at greater risk of heart disease are lifestyle and the presence of an underlying medical condition. Ideally, people who realize they’re at risk of developing heart disease because of their lifestyle will make the necessary changes.

Diet and Exercise Play a Big Role in Preventing Heart Disease

If you want to lower your risk of heart disease, maintaining a healthy diet is important. A good rule of thumb is that you want to eat colorful foods and stay away from fatty and processed foods. The more color food has, the better odds of it being good for you.

You also want to live an active lifestyle. Getting enough physical activity that your heart gets a workout is important. Talk to your doctor or a personal trainer if you want to develop a good exercise plan. Be careful to build up your exercise routine over time so that you don’t put your health at risk. If you have an underlying medical condition, you should always consult with a doctor prior to beginning any type of exercise regimen.

It’s Important to Stay on Top of Your Health

It’s also important that you see your doctor on a regular basis. If you do not get checked out regularly, there’s no way to know to catch a potential problem before it becomes a major issue. Your physician can run the necessary tests to see how your heart is operating. They can do bloodwork to find out how your cholesterol levels are. They can also have you undergo a stress test. This will show how your heart responds to physical activity.

Certain Activities Can Be a Big Trigger When It Comes to Heart Disease

As with other medical conditions, there are a lot of activities that put your heart at risk. If you want to reduce your risk of heart disease, keep the following risky activities in mind:

• Smoking
• Drinking
• Eating fatty foods
• Using drugs

You also want to talk to your doctor to make sure there aren’t other activities you should avoid. Every person is unique, and you may have underlying health conditions that put you at special risk.

If You Feel Your Heart Disease Was Not Diagnosed Properly Call an Experienced Birmingham Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Ideally, your doctor will discover and diagnose any medical issues you may have. When you go for your annual or semi-annual checkup, your doctor needs to perform the necessary tests to assess your overall health. As you get older, this should include tests to determine the health of your heart. If your doctor doesn’t do that and you suffer a stroke or heart attack, there’s a chance that you may have a legal claim. If that is the case, make sure you contact Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton LLP to speak with a personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with medical malpractice cases.