Eight tips for helping to ensure you are participating in heart healthy living 1. Understand your risk. Risk factors include •High blood pressure •High cholesterol •Overweight or obese •Diabetes •Smoking •Physical inactivity •Family history of heart disease •Have unhealthy eating habits 2. Get checked. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked regularly. These are two major risk factors for heart health and need to be monitored by your provider. 3. Aim for a healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, a loss of 5% to 10% of body weight over six months can decrease risk for chronic disease. 4. Choose heart-healthy foods. Eating hearthealthy includes choosing foods such as lean ...