According to the CDC, one person in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease every 36 seconds. That translates to 659,000 people every year. Heart disease is a leading cause of death. Dr. Leith Abdulla in Rockville and Olney, MD provides all the heart services you may need to care for your heart.

Protecting yourself from heart disease can mean a lot of different things. It means managing risk factors such as diabetes, cholesterol, family history, and hypertension. 

Family history

One of the most important weapons you have against heart disease is your knowledge of your family history. If you know that certain types of heart diseases often happen in your family, it gives you some of the information you need to be able to protect yourself from suffering the same fate. You can avoid smoking, exercise regularly, have a healthy diet, keep your weight within a healthy range, drink less alcohol, and try to maintain good mental health. 

Letting your doctor know about any family history you may have can be one of the most vital things you do to protect yourself from heart disease. 

Hypertension

High blood pressure is the silent killer and if you're worried about heart disease in Rockville and Olney, MD, it is essential that you take all the necessary steps to maintain a healthy blood pressure level. You can do this through diet, exercise, a healthy weight, and not smoking. You should get your blood pressure taken regularly and, if necessary, your doctor can prescribe medication to keep the level safe. 

Cholesterol

Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level can go a long way toward protecting your heart. You need to adopt a low saturated fat diet that is high in fiber and get regular exercise. If you are unable to maintain a healthy level with these lifestyle changes, you may need to take a statin drug. 

Diabetes

Keeping your diabetes under control can protect the health of your heart. If your diabetes level is high over time, it will cause damage to blood vessels and also the nerves that control your heart. 

Having a healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of a healthy diet with plenty of fiber, lowering your alcohol intake, regular exercise, and no smoking can help to protect your heart.  

You can take all your heart disease questions in Rockville and Olney, MD to Dr. Abdulla. Dr. Abdulla has two offices, one in Rockville and one in Olney, MD. To make an appointment, call 301-774-5260 in Olney and 301-881-5858 in Rockville.