A Personal Action Plan

Preventing heart disease, by and large, means making difficult lifestyle changes. A healthy heart requires a personal action plan. But where does one begin?

A complete medical checkup is a sensible first step. With the help of your doctor, you can find out if you have any coronary disease risk factors, and if so, work out a practical approach to prevention. Even if you have no risk factors now, you can discuss ways to lesson your chances of developing them.

But while advice from a health professional is important, a major portion of responsibility for a healthy heart rests with each individual woman. She alone can make the changes in eating, drinking, smoking, and exercise habits that will help protect her against coronary disease.

Women are taking a more active role in their own health care. They are asking more questions and are seeking more self-help solutions. They are concerned not only about treatment, but about the prevention of a wide range of health problems. Taking steps to prevent coronary disease is part of this growing movement to promote and protect personal health. The rewards of healthy heart are well worth the effort.