The Walnut Healthcare Global System is a creative tool to achieve maximum productivity through increasing health literacy involving multi-talented groups of people and technology working in collaboration to achieve the best results to reduce healthcare costs. Together with discovering the drivers of spending and spending growth in US health care. How do the organization’s strategy and decision-making processes impact total spending and value, and how to control them? Lifelong educational offerings that develop management competencies and improving professional skills are vital to succeed through this tool.
​
You also need to develop the third eye strength that comes forth within yourself. The other name of the third eye is self-power to see things through the inner eye.
​
For innovation to flourish, organizations must create an environment that fosters creativity; bringing together multi-talented groups of people who work in close collaboration together— exchanging knowledge, ideas and shaping the direction of the future. Organizations led by creative leaders have a higher success rate in innovation, employee engagement, change, and renewal. --

Linda Naiman, founder of Creativity at Work. "What if you could repair your body at the cellular level? Could food be grown right in the crowded cities where people live? How far can we extend the human life span?"​
​
​

Innovation in Work: According to Shlain and my research on Creative Mind Expansion, we're in the process of building a Global Brain. One that will allow us to get a higher success rate by using increased ingenuity, learning through the internet, and working with multi-talented groups of people and technology working together from all over the World on a Global basis

​Health Literacy

"Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.
Low health literacy is more prevalent among:
Older adults
Minority populations
Those who have low socioeconomic status
Medically underserved people"

What is our role in promoting health literacy?

Health literacy is a common thread through all of our programs. A large portion of the people we serve are poor and medically underserved.
​

They need help understanding and navigating a complex health care system. They require culturally competent providers who

speak their language so they can make informed health care choices. A number of patients may be confused with certain medical language, have difficulty understanding English, struggle with filling out forms, or have limited access to health providers in their community. With the proper training, health care professionals can identify patients' specific health literacy levels and make simple communication adjustments."

Click to CDC A-Z Index for the Topic of Your Choice

​CDC A-Z Index

A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H     I     J     K     L     M     N     O     P     Q     R     S    T     U     V     W     X     Y     Z     #

Programs & Services  - HHS

HHS administers more than 100 programs across its operating divisions. HHS programs protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

​What is Diabetes?
Español (Spanish)

With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as it should.

Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.
Most of the food you eat is broken down into sugar (also called glucose) and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar into your body’s cells for use as energy.
If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can

cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can really help. Taking medicine as needed, getting diabetes self-management education and support, and keeping health care appointments can also reduce the impact of diabetes on your life.

Diabetes by the Numbers

• 34.2 million US adults have diabetes, and 1 in 5 of them don’t know they have it.
• Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.
• Diabetes is the No. 1 cause of kidney failure, lower-limb amputations, and adult blindness.
• In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled.

​Types of DiabetesThere are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes
 (diabetes while pregnant).
Type 1 DiabetesType 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the body attacks itself by mistake) that stops your body from making insulin. Approximately 5-10% of the people who have diabetes have type 1. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often develop quickly. It’s usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin every day to survive. Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 DiabetesWith type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. About 90-95% of people with diabetes have type 2. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more and more in

children, teens, and young adults). You may not notice any symptoms, so it’s important to get your blood sugar tested if you’re at 

risk

. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active.
Gestational DiabetesGestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes. If you have gestational diabetes, your baby could be at higher risk for health problems. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after your baby is born but increases your risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. Your baby is more likely to have obesity as a child or teen, and more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life too.
​

media iconLow Resolution VideoPrediabetesIn the United States, 88 million adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. What’s more, more than 84% of them don’t know they have it. With prediabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes raises your risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The

good news is if you have prediabetes, a CDC-recognized lifestyle change program can help you take healthy steps to reverse it

Heart Diseases​
More than 868,000 Americans die of heart disease, stroke, or other cardiovascular diseases every year—that’s one-third of all US deaths. These diseases also take an economic toll, costing $214 billion a year to our health care system and causing $138 billion in lost productivity from premature death alone.

CDC supports programs that help millions of Americans control their high blood pressure and reduce other risk factors. These efforts have helped lower death rates from heart disease and stroke, which are the first and fifth leading causes of death in the United States.

Risk Factors and CDC's Response

• High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking and Secondhand Smoke Exposure
• Obesity, Unhealthy Diet, and Physical Inactivity

The Nation’s Risk Factors and CDC’s Response 

Leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke are high blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and secondhand smoke exposure, obesity, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity.

RISK FACTOR

High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol 

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke because it damages the lining of the arteries, making them more susceptible to the buildup of plaque, which narrows the arteries leading to the heart and brain. About 108 million US adults (1 in 3) have high blood pressure. Only about half (48%) of these people have their high blood pressure under control. About 7 in 10 people who have a first heart attack and 8 in 10 people who have a first stroke have high blood pressure.

Eating too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure. Americans aged 2 years or older consume an average of about 3,400 mg of sodium each day, well over the 2,300 mg recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. More than 70% of the sodium Americans consume is added outside the home (before purchase), not added as salt at the table or during home cooking.

High LDL cholesterol can also double a person’s risk of heart disease. That’s because excess cholesterol can build up in the walls of arteries and limit blood flow to a person’s heart, brain, kidneys, other organs, and legs. Although nearly 86 million US adults could benefit from taking medicine to manage their high LDL cholesterol, only about half (55%) are doing so.
People can improve their blood pressure and cholesterol levels by eating a healthy diet that is low in sodium, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking medications as recommended.

CDC’s Response

CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) works with partners across government, public health, health care, and private sectors to improve prevention, detection, and control of heart disease and stroke risk factors, with a focus on high blood pressure and high cholesterol. DHDSP also works to improve recognition of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke and the quality of care following these events.

Through its scientific and programmatic investments, DHDSP advances strategies such as using electronic health records to identify patients at risk and treat them appropriately and caring for patients with teams of clinicians, pharmacists, community health workers, and others outside of the doctor’s office. The division also promotes strategies that link patients to community programs and resources that help them take their medicines consistently, manage their risk factors, and make healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or losing weight.

The following major programs support the division’s goals:

• DHDSP funds heart disease and stroke prevention and management activities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 12
  tribes, 23 tribal-serving organizations, 5 large cities or counties, and 2 groups of city and county health departments. These programs work to reduce risk factors for heart disease and stroke and eliminate health disparities through community and health system interventions.
• WISEWOMAN funds 21 states and 3 tribal organizations to reduce heart disease and stroke risk factors for low-income women aged 40 to 64 who have little or no health insurance.
• The Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program funds 9 states to use coordinated systems of care to improve the quality of care for patients who have a stroke.
• Million Heartsexternal icon® provides national leadership to promote changes in communities and health care systems across the country to prevent 1 million strokes and heart attacks over 5 years.
• The Sodium Reduction in Communities Program funds 8 sites across the country to help schools, hospitals, and worksites offer low-sodium options in the foods they serve and sell.

RISK FACTORDiabetesAdults with diabetes are 2 to 3 times as likely to die of heart disease or have a stroke as people who do not have diabetes. Over time, high blood sugar from diabetes can damage blood vessels in the heart, and it can block blood vessels leading to the brain, causing a stroke. Nearly 3 in 4 people with diabetes have high blood pressure. Diabetes also raises LDL cholesterol.

CDC’s Response

CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation is at the leading edge of the nation’s efforts to end the devastation of diabetes. The division works with federal, state, and community organizations to prevent type 2 diabetes and improve the health of all people with diabetes.

The CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program delivers an evidence-based lifestyle change program to help adults with prediabetes prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In 2016, CDC and the American Diabetes Association, the American Medical Association, and the Ad Council launched the first national prediabetes awareness campaign to encourage people to find out their

risk by taking a 1-minute test at DoIHavePrediabetes.orgexternal icon.

CDC also works to increase access to diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services to help people manage their diabetes. DSMES reduces the cost of diabetes on the US health care system.

These activities support CDC’s overall efforts to reduce death rates from heart disease and stroke by preventing and controlling risk factors.

RISK FACTOR

Smoking and Secondhand Smoke Exposure

Smoking is a major cause of heart disease and stroke and causes 1 in every 4 deaths from these conditions. Smoking can damage the body several ways by:

• Raising triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) and lowering high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, also called “good” cholesterol.
• Making blood sticky and more likely to clot, which can block blood flow to the heart and brain.
• Damaging cells that line the blood vessels.
• Increasing the buildup of plaque (fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances) in blood vessels.
• Causing thickening and narrowing of blood vessels.​

About 34 million US adults smoke cigarettes, and every day, about 1,600 young people under age 18 try their first cigarette.

CDC’s Response

CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health is at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to reduce deaths and prevent chronic diseases—including heart disease and stroke—that result from smoking. CDC and its partners promote efforts to prevent young people from starting to smoke, create smokefree worksites and public spaces, help smokers quit, and reduce health disparities for groups with higher rates of chronic diseases caused by smoking.

CDC’s Tips From Former Smokers® (Tips®) campaign, the first federally funded tobacco education campaign, focuses on motivating US adults who smoke to try to quit. Tips features real people—not actors—who are living with serious health conditions caused by smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. It connects people who smoke with resources to help them quit, including 1-800-QUIT-NOW, which directs people to free services from their state quit lines.

​RISK FACTOR

Obesity, Unhealthy Diet, and Physical Inactivity

People who are overweight or have obesity, compared to those at a normal weight, are at increased risk of heart disease and stroke and their risk factors, including high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, and type 2 diabetes. In the United States, 72% of adults are overweight or have obesity.

Having a healthy diet can reduce a person’s chances of getting heart disease. A healthy diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables,

whole grains, and lean proteins and limits saturated and trans fat, added sugars, and sodium. Not getting enough physical activity can also lead to heart disease—even for people who have no other risk factors. It can also increase the chance of other risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Only 1 in 4 US adults and 1 in 5 high school students gets enough physical activity.

CDC’s Response

CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity develops and shares evidence-based approaches that help make healthy living easier for everyone, which can help people reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. For example, the division works with hospitals to support breastfeeding moms, child care centers to promote healthy eating standards, and workplaces to change policies so that employees have more healthy food choices.
​
To increase physical activity opportunities, the division partners with states and communities to promote improvements in community design—such as sidewalks and parks—that make physical activity safer and more convenient for people of all ages and abilities.


Heart Disease and Stroke pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB]

Top of Page

Content provided and maintained by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please see our system usage guidelines and disclaime

Stroke

About Stroke

A stroke happens when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain. This causes brain tissue to become damaged or die.
A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.

Learn more about what causes stroke and what happens during a stroke.

Understanding StrokeTo understand stroke, it helps to understand the brain. The brain controls our movements, stores our memories, and is the source of our thoughts, emotions, and language. The brain also controls many functions of the body, like breathing and digestion.

To work properly, your brain needs oxygen. Although your brain makes up only 2% of your body weight, it uses 20% of the oxygen you breathe.1 Your arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood to all parts of your brain.
What Happens During a StrokeIf something happens to block the flow of blood, brain cells start to die within minutes because they can’t get oxygen. This causes a stroke.

There are two types of stroke:

• An ischemic stroke occurs when blood clots or other particles block the blood vessels to the brain. Fatty deposits called plaque can also cause blockages by building up in the blood vessels.
• A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. Blood builds up and damages surrounding brain tissue.

Both types of stroke damage brain cells. Symptoms of that damage start to show in the parts of the body controlled by those brain cells.

Quick Treatment Is Critical for StrokeA stroke is a serious medical condition that requires emergency care. Act F.A.S.Texternal

icon. Call 9-1-1 right away if you or someone you are with shows any signs of a stroke. Time lost is brain lost. Every minute counts.

​Reference

1. Rink C, Khanna S. Significance of brain tissue oxygenation and the arachidonic acid cascade in strokeexternal icon. 
   Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. 2011;14(10):1889–1903.

Content provided and maintained by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please see our system usage guidelines and disclaimer.

Arthritis

Arthritis affects 58.5 million US adults, about 1 in 4. Children can also get arthritis.
Learn more about arthritis and how you can manage it.
About Arthritis

1. What is arthritis?
2. What are the most common types of arthritis?
3. What are the symptoms of arthritis?
4. What causes arthritis?
5. Am I at risk for arthritis?
6. Are people with arthritis more likely to develop complications from the flu?
7. How many adults in the United States have arthritis?
8. Can children get arthritis?
9. Can I prevent arthritis?

Diagnosing Arthritis

1. What should I do if I think I have arthritis?
2. How is arthritis diagnosed?

Treating and Managing Arthritis

1. How is arthritis treated?
2. What can I do to manage my arthritis?
3. Can I exercise with arthritis?
4. What should I do if I have pain when I exercise?
5. Does being overweight affect arthritis?

About Arthritis
1. What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a general term for conditions that affect the joints or tissues around the joint. There are more than 100 types of arthritis.
Most types of arthritis cause pain and stiffness in and around the affected joint or joints. Some types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, also affect the immune system and some internal organs of the body.

Learn more about common forms of arthritis in the Arthritis Types section.

Experts use different definitions to gather information about arthritis in the population. Learn more on the Arthritis Case Definitions page.

2. What are the most common types of arthritis?

The most common form of arthritis in the United States is osteoarthritis. Other common types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is included in arthritis for public health purposes.

3. What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Different types of arthritis have different symptoms. Pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints are common symptoms for most types of arthritis. Depending on the type of arthritis, symptoms can develop suddenly or gradually over time. Symptoms may come and go or persist over time.

For information about the symptoms of specific types of arthritis, visit our Arthritis Types section.

4. What causes arthritis?

Experts don’t know the causes of many forms of arthritis. However, we do know that gout is caused by too much uric acid in the body. Sometimes specific infections can also cause arthritis.

Scientists are studying the role of factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and environment in different types of arthritis to learn more possible causes and risk factors.

For information about known arthritis risk factors, visit the Risk Factors page.

5. Am I at risk for arthritis?

Certain factors make it more likely that you will develop arthritis. You can control some risk factors, and others you cannot. By changing the risk factors, you can control, you can decrease your risk of getting arthritis or making arthritis worse.

Learn more about arthritis risk factors.

Top of Page
6. Are people with arthritis more likely to develop complications from the flu?

If you have a form of inflammatory arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, you may be more likely to develop complications from the flu than most people.
Flu-related complications may include:

• Sinus infections
• Ear infections
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia

​People with inflammatory arthritis are more vulnerable to flu-related complications because they have weakened immune systems. These forms of arthritis and some of the medications used to treat them can both weaken the immune system.

Learn about flu complications and warning signs to look for on the Flu Symptoms and Complications webpage of the CDC Flu website.

7. How many adults in the United States have arthritis?

An estimated 58.5 million US adults have arthritis. Experts believe that number will grow as our nation’s population gets older.
Learn more about arthritis prevalence on the Arthritis-Related Statistics page.

8. Can children get arthritis?
​Yes, children can get arthritis. The most common type of arthritis found in children is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), also known as childhood arthritis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Signs and symptoms of childhood arthritis may include:

• Joint pain
• Swelling
• Fever
• Stiffness
• Rash
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Loss of appetite
• Inflammation of the eye
• Difficulty with daily living activities such as walking, dressing, and playing

Childhood arthritis causes permanent damage to the affected joint or joints. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are important to prevent or minimize permanent damage. There is no cure for childhood arthritis, but some children with childhood arthritis achieve permanent remission, which means the disease is no longer active.

Learn more about childhood arthritis.

9. Can I prevent arthritis?

You can reduce your risk of getting some types of arthritis by changing risk factors you can control. Risk factors you can control include overweight and obesity, joint injuries, and smoking.

Learn more about arthritis risk factors.




Diagnosing Arthritis

1. What should I do if I think I have arthritis?

Talk to your doctor if you have arthritis symptoms such as pain, stiffness, or swelling in or around one or more of your joints.

2. How is arthritis diagnosed?

Doctors usually diagnose arthritis using the patient’s medical history, physical examination, X-rays, and blood tests.
It is possible to have more than one form of arthritis at the same time. There are many forms of arthritis and diagnosing the specific type you have can help your doctor determine the best treatment. The earlier you understand your arthritis, the earlier you can start managing your disease, reducing pain, and making healthy lifestyle changes.

Treating and Managing Arthritis

1. How is arthritis treated?

The focus of arthritis treatment is to:

• Control pain.
• Minimize joint damage.
• Improve or maintain physical function and quality of life.

​In inflammatory types of arthritis, it is also important to control inflammation.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, arthritis treatment can include medications, nondrug therapies such as physical therapy or patient education, and sometimes surgery.
Managing your arthritis symptoms is very important as well.

Learn what you can do to manage your arthritis.

2. What can I do to manage my arthritis?


Properly managing your arthritis can help you:

• Decrease pain.
• Improve function.
• Stay productive.
• Lower health care costs.

Self-management is what you do day-to-day to manage your condition and stay healthy. Practice proven self-management strategies to reduce arthritis pain so you can pursue the activities that are important to you.

Learn what you can do to manage your arthritis.

3. Can I exercise with arthritis?

Arthritis-friendly physical activity is good for people with arthritis.
Regular physical activity can:

• Help relieve arthritis pain and stiffness.
• Give you more energy.
• Lift your mood and make you feel more positive.

Stay as active as your health allows and change your activity level depending on your arthritis symptoms. Some physical activity is better than none.

Learn about physical activity for people with arthritis and CDC-recognized physical activity programs.

​4. What should I do if I have pain when I exercise?It’s normal to have some pain, stiffness, and swelling after starting a new physical activity program. It may take 6 to 8 weeks for your joints to get used to your new activity level, but sticking with your activity program will result in long-term pain relief.

Here are some ways to manage your pain while your joints adjust to your new activity level.

Tips for managing your pain during and after exercise

• Until your pain improves, modify your physical activity program by exercising less frequently (days per week), for shorter periods of time (amount of time each session), or with less intensity.
• Try a different type of exercise to reduce pressure on your joints—for example, switch from walking to water aerobics.
• Do proper warm-up and cool-down before and after exercise.
• Exercise at a comfortable pace—you should be able to carry on a conversation while exercising.
• Make sure you have good fitting, comfortable shoes.

​See your doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Pain that is sharp, stabbing, and constant.
• Pain that causes you to limp.
• Pain that lasts more than 2 hours after exercise or gets worse at night.
• Pain or swelling that does not get better with rest, medication, or hot or cold packs.
• Large increases in swelling or if your joints feel “hot” or are red.

​Learn more about physical activity for people with arthritis.

5. Does being overweight affect arthritis?

It is important for people with arthritis to maintain a healthy weight.
For people who are overweight or obese, losing weight reduces pressure on joints, particularly weight bearing joints like the hips and knees. In fact, losing as little as 10 to 12 pounds can reduce pain and improve function for people with arthritis.
At any age, low-impact, arthritis-friendly physical activity and diet changes can help you lose weight. Learn about managing your weight at CDC’s Healthy Weight website.

​Content provided and maintained by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please see our system usage guidelines and disclaimer.

​Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction, happens when a part of the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood.

The more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)
 is the main cause of heart attack. A less common cause is a severe spasm, or sudden contraction, of a coronary artery that can stop blood flow to the heart muscle.


What are the symptoms of heart attack?

The major symptoms of a heart attack are

• Chest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
• Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint. You may also break out into a cold sweat.
• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders.
• Shortness of breath. This often comes along with chest discomfort, but shortness of breath also can happen before chest discomfort.
• Other symptoms of a heart attack could include unusual or unexplained tiredness and nausea or vomiting. Women are more likely to have these other symptoms. Learn more about women and heart disease.​

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.1 Learn more facts about heart attack and heart disease.


Call 9-1-1 if you notice symptoms of a heart attack.
If you notice the symptoms of a heart attack in yourself or someone else, call 9-1-1 immediately
. The sooner you get to an emergency room, the sooner you can get treatment to reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle. At the hospital, health care professionals can run tests to find out if a heart attack is happening and decide the best treatment.
In some cases, a heart attack requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or an electrical shock (defibrillation) to the heart to get the heart pumping again. Bystanders trained to use CPR, or a defibrillator may be able to help until emergency medical personnel arrive.

Remember, the chances of surviving a heart attack are better the sooner emergency treatment begins.

What are the risk factors for heart attack?
​Several health conditions, your lifestyle, and your age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease and heart attack. These are called risk factors. About half of all Americans have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease: high

blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking.2
Some risk factors cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk by changing

the factors you can 
control.
Learn more about risk factors

 for heart disease and heart attack.

What can I do to recover after a heart attack?

Take our quiz  quiz extrarenal icon

 to see how much you know about cardiac rehabilitation.

If you’ve had a heart attack, your heart may be damaged. This could affect your heart’s rhythm and its ability to pump blood to the rest of the body. You may also be at risk for another heart attack or conditions such as stroke

, kidney disorders, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

You can lower your chances of having future health problems following a heart attack with these steps:

• Physical activity—Talk with your health care team about the things you do each day in your life and work. Your doctor may want you to limit work, travel, or sexual activity for some time after a heart attack.
• Lifestyle changes—Eating a healthier diet, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, and managing stress—in addition to taking prescribed medicines—can help improve your heart health and quality of life. Ask your health care team about attending a program called cardiac rehabilitation to help you make these lifestyle changes.
• Cardiac rehabilitation--Cardiac rehabilitation is an important program for anyone recovering from a heart attack, heart
  failure, or ​other heart problem that required surgery or medical care. Cardiac rehab is a supervised program that includes
  Physical activity
  Education about healthy living, including healthy eating, taking medicine as prescribed, and ways to help you quit smoking
  Counseling to find ways to relieve stress and improve mental health​

​A team of people may help you through cardiac rehab, including your health care team, exercise and nutrition specialists, physical therapists, and counselors or mental health professionals.