Before you can start “getting to green,” or working to get your risk factors at healthy levels, it’s important to understand the risk factors you can control and the ones you cannot control — because no matter how hard you try, age and family history are two risk factors that are simply out of your hands.
Fortunately, you can manage risk factors like cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, and your weight. Some may be harder to manage than others. But there are some straightforward yet important ways to start heading in the right direction, right away.
Read through the list below to find out why each risk factor counts. Then explore each section to learn more about what you can do to start taking control of your heart health and “get to green.”