Topics
Will I be able to keep heart disease from getting worse?
Fortunately, there are steps to help your heart disease from getting worse:
- Stop smoking if you are a smoker. Smoking increases the chance of heart disease.
- Improve unhealthy blood lipid levels (or cholesterol)
- Control high blood pressure
- Control diabetes
- Treat chronic kidney disease
- Lose excess weight
- Increase physical activity
- take your medicine as directed
It is also important to understand the heart and kidney connection, and to keep this connection in mind as you manage your heart and kidney health.
Actions/Things to Track
Things to Track Topic 9
You should keep track of your kidney tests and other lab numbers. You can speak to a clinician about access to your lab results (printout or online access, depending on the practice). You may also be able to directly access your lab tests straight from the lab.
Ask your healthcare professional when to check your blood pressure. They may suggest that you check your blood pressure 1 to 2 times per day at the same time, before taking your blood pressure medicine. The best times are usually in the morning before breakfast and in the evening before going to bed.
Ask your healthcare professional when to check your blood sugar. They may suggest that you check your blood sugar before breakfast (called fasting blood sugar), before other meals, or 1 to 2 hours after a meal.
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