| Are you at risk for heart attack or stroke? |
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| You can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Start by becoming aware of your risk factors, the personal characteristics and habits that may increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. Some you cannot change or control; some you can, by making a few changes in your habits or taking medicines as prescribed. |
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| Use the checklist below to learn where to focus your efforts. Then work with your healthcare provider to reduce, prevent or control as many risk factors as you can. You will be glad you did… and so will your loved ones. |
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| Take the test now! |
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| Cardiovascular disease such as heart disease and stroke can be prevented. |
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| Cardiovascular disease is caused not by one risk factor alone, but by several factors. Combinations of risk factors multiply, rather than merely add, their individual effects on your likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. |
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| At the same time, the presence of certain risk factors may influence the subsequent development of other risk factors. For instance, smoking, which in itself sharply increases a person’s risk of heart attack, tends to lead to high blood pressure, which is another contributory factor for heart disease. |
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| Fortunately, the majority of these risk factors can be reduced by making changes to your lifestyle. Take your first step to prevent heart disease and stroke among you and your family! |
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| Factors You Can Change |
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| This group of risk factors stems mainly from the personal habits and practices which we have cultivated since childhood. Although it is more effective to check the development of unhealthy habits from young than to try and modify such habits later in life, the good news is that it is never too late to start adopting heart-healthy habits so as to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. |
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| The main risk factors which fall under this category are:
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| Factors You Cannot Change |
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| While we are unable to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease arising from this category of factors, it is important for us to be informed about these risk factors and ascertain whether we are at high risk of developing heart disease. If we do belong to this category, we should then take steps to modify the risk factors which we can change. |
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| A Heart Healthy Lifestyle |
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| A healthy lifestyle can help you guard against cardiovascular disease. Even if you are already an existing stroke or heart patient, you can still prevent or delay your next cardiovascular attack, as well as reduce its severity, by adopting heart-healthy practices and habits in the following areas: |
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| Not sure where to start? Begin your journey towards a healthier lifestyle by adopting the Singapore Heart Foundation’s 3-5-7 Healthy Heart Principles! |
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| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) |
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| Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a basic life-saving technique aimed at helping a person whose heart and/or breathing has stopped. Comprising mouth-to-mouth respiration and manual chest compressions, it provides emergency life support by sustaining the flow of oxygenated blood to the victim’s brain and other vital organs until appropriate medical help arrives. |
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| Why do I need to learn CPR? |
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| Learn CPR and help make Singapore a heart safe place! |
