About Heart Disease

Heart Disease includes a number of conditions, many of which are caused by atherosclerosis, when plaque builds up in the arteries and makes it difficult for blood to flow through.

The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, also known as coronary heart disease, but there are many other conditions that affect the heart.

Preventing and managing heart disease

Lifestyle changes

• Know your numbers. Learn more about knowing and managing your blood pressure by visiting About High Blood Pressure.
• Manage your cholesterol levels. For more information, visit the American Heart Association's What is Cholesterol.
• Stay active by using ideas from Physical Activity, eat healthy meals, and maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit using tobacco. Visit the Minnesota QUITPARTNER or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) for tools and support to quit tobacco.

The SagePlus program helps low-income Minnesotans or those who do not have adequate insurance improve their heart health. Visit SagePlus: Get Screened to learn more about the program. 

Self-management and measurement

Monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and can be done at home. For more information on self-measuring, visit the Million Hearts: Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring website. The American Heart Assocation has tools for personal online tracking on Check. Change. Control. Community Partner Resources.

Health care and medication: Taking medication correctly

If you take medication for high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, it is important to follow the instructions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

There are some risk factors of heart disease that cannot be changed.

Age: About 4 out of 5 heart disease deaths are in people older than 65 years of age.

Sex: Heart disease is more prevalent in men than in women, and men are at greater risk before age 65.

Race/Ethnicity: African Americans die from heart disease at a 30% higher rate than whites, but American Indians, Asians, and Hispanics all die of heart disease at lower rates than whites.

Family History: Heart disease risk is increased for individuals with family members who have heart disease due to not only genetic inheritance, but also the sharing of cultural, environmental, and lifestyle factors within families.

Learn more about Heart Disease in Minnesota.

Take Your Medications as Directed (PDF): Use this guide to help you take your medications correctly to make sure they are as effective as possible.