First of all, don’t smoke! Quit smoking on your own or with the support of a physician. Ask your doctor to screen you regularly for cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes and hypertension. Cut cholesterol, trim the fat from your diet, exercise and maintain a healthy weight. It’s best to understand risk factors now so you can avoid cardiovascular disease 20, 30 or 40 years down the road. Prevention is better than waiting for the warning signs of heart disease that happen after damage already has been done.

No matter what your age, you should talk with a cardiologist if you’re concerned about heart disease or feel uncomfortable about your family history. Tell your doctor about any family history of high cholesterol, heart attacks in immediate family members at young ages, enlarged heart or congestive heart failure. Remember, the earliest symptoms of heart disease may not be chest pain. They may be fatigue or shortness of breath.

Talk to your doctor. He or she should evaluate your family history and lifestyle. You might receive counseling on improving your diet and making exercise a regular part of your life. If your cholesterol levels are high, your physician may recommend medications to help lower cholesterol and decrease your risk of a first heart attack. In addition, some people may benefit from an ultra fast CT, which may be helpful in assessing people at higher risk who require a more aggressive approach to prevention.

Aerobic activity, such as swimming, brisk walking, running or biking, strengthens the heart. Cardiovascular disease ranks as number one killer, claiming the lives of more than 40% of those who die each year. So do regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Chest pain with exertion that resolves with rest is the first sign of coronary disease in many cases. Breathing difficulties with exertion may be an indicator of heart or lung disease. A productive cough is a sign of emphysema or chronic bronchitis but is not specific. Development of any of the above symptoms should prompt you to seek help from your primary care physician.

This depends on the type of birth control used. Contraceptive methods containing both estrogen and progesterone (most oral contraceptive pills, the skin patch, and the vaginal ring) have been associated with higher rates of heart disease. However, because the risk of heart disease among women of reproductive age is relatively low, combination hormonal contraception will only cause a small increase in the number of cases of heart disease. Therefore, these forms of contraception can be used safely in healthy women. Women who already have risk factors for heart disease (smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history of heart attack)