Heart Disease Prevention

You can reduce your risk of heart disease by developing a heart healthy lifestyle. Key components include maintaining a healthy weight, regular aerobic-type exercise, a low-fat and high-fiber diet, and reducing stress levels. CHI Memorial offers nutrition counseling and other preventive programs for those with risk factors.
 

Cardiac disease risk factors

Characteristics or traits that predict your risk of developing heart disease are called risk factors. Some risk factors - like heredity, race and age - are beyond our control. But you do have the power to reduce the severity of the following risk factors: obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, stress, lack of exercise, high-fat diet, excessive alcohol consumption and uncontrolled diabetes.

 

Abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) screening

An aortic aneurysm is a weakened and bulging area in the body’s major blood vessel. A ruptured aortic aneurysm can cause life-threatening bleeding. If found and monitored, it can be treated. Memorial offers free AAA screenings for individuals 65 years old or older who have not had a previous diagnosis of aortic aneurysm or an abdominal CT scan in the past five years. Screenings are offered at CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga, CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson and CHI Memorial Ooltewah.