According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 655,000 people die from heart disease each year in the United States. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease, but can often be prevented with lifestyle changes and routine checkups with a cardiologist. A good diet, routine exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are just a few heart healthy practices that can limit your risk for coronary artery disease.

“If you’re going to have any lifestyles that are predisposing you to coronary artery disease, then you’re going to sooner or later pick it up,” said CHI St. Vincent cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Michael Bauer.

Building a heart healthy lifestyle for you and your family requires more than just implementing the right routine, though. It means sticking to that routine even when faced with the stress of work, school, children, relationships and all of life’s other challenges.

“What may have once been a healthy lifestyle can begin to go off the rails,” said CHI St. Vincent cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Frederick Meadors. “It gets down to how we take care of ourselves, and let’s face it, being humans is a stressful undertaking.”

To learn more about compassionate heart care at CHI St. Vincent and how to develop your own heart healthy lifestyle, visit chistvincent.com/heart.