Many of us are aware that the number one cause of death amongst people nowadays is heart disease. Although this statistic used to apply only to men and people of a certain age, it now also applies to women and the prevalence of heart disease seems to be increasing amongst young people. There are many factors which can increase your risk of contracting heart disease. If you are wondering, "am I at risk for heart disease?", this article may be able to help answer your question.

A great way to find out if you are currently at risk of getting heart disease is to visit your doctor. The general recommendation is that you visit your general practitioner twice a year if you are in good health.

When you are visiting with your doctor, he or she will take your blood pressure, measure your heart rate, and possibly take some blood samples. If the doctor does not take any blood from you, you may want to request that a cholesterol test be performed anyway.

It is very important that you know and understand what your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are and what they mean. Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or both are indicators that you are at risk for heart disease.

People who do not take care of their health are also at risk. For example, if you smoke, are overweight, or frequently starve yourself, you are at a greater risk.

Fortunately, the leading cause of heart disease is lifestyle choices. Today, the biggest contributor is failing to eat a healthy diet and get enough exercise. It is very important that you eat the right foods and get the recommended amounts of nutrients in order to prevent heart problems. You should also start a regular exercise routine and keep in mind that if you are not sweating, you are probably not trying hard enough.

If you wait too long to see your doctor or to start taking preventative measures, diet and exercise may not be enough to help you get better. If this is the case, you may be prescribed a number of different medications that thin your blood, lower your cholesterol, and do a number of other things. You will also need to make lifestyle changes while taking these drugs.

Do not wait too long to have yourself checked out by a doctor. The sooner you begin taking preventative measures, the less likely it is that you will need drugs or surgeries to fix your heart.