CONTROLLING THE OTHER FACTORS THAT CAN
LEAD TO HEART DISEASE

Besides putting a strain on your heart, being overweight can raise your blood pressure and your blood cholesterol. It can also lead to diabetes. Along with smoking and being inactive, all these factors can lead to heart disease.

You can make a difference. The more risk factors you control, the lower your risk of heart disease. If you want to lower your risk of heart disease:
Don't smoke.
Control your blood pressure if it is high. Losing as little as 4.5
   kilograms (10 pounds) can help lower high blood pressure. Check
   with your doctor.
Ask your doctor if you need your blood cholesterol checked. Losing
   extra weight can improve your blood cholesterol.
Be active every day.
Ask your doctor if you need your blood glucose checked. Losing
   extra weight can lower your chance of having diabetes, and it can help
   control diabetes if you have it.

Your doctor may suggest other pamphlets on each of these topics. Ask for the ones that interest you.

There are resources in your community to help you control your weight and other risk factors for heart disease. For more information, contact the organizations below (at no charge):

Dietitians of Canada: www.dietitians.ca
Heart and Stroke Foundation: 1-888-HSF-INFO (473-4636) or
   www.hsf.ca
HUGS International: 1-800-565-4847 or www.hugs.com
TOPS: 1-800-932-8677 or www.tops.org
Weight Watchers: 1-800-651-6000 or www.weight-watchers.com

Other useful resources:

"Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating" is available from Health
   Canada (check the "blue pages" of your phone book) or
   http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php
Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living:
   1-888-334-9769 or www.paguide.com