This document provides information about heart health and preventing heart disease. It outlines guidelines for a heart-smart lifestyle, including eating a healthy diet low in fat and sodium, being physically active, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and regularly checking cholesterol and blood pressure with a doctor. The checklist encourages specific healthy behaviors like eating nutritious foods, exercising, losing weight if obese, and scheduling regular medical checkups to monitor risk factors and get screened for heart disease. Warning signs of a heart attack are also listed.

1. Get Heart Smart More Information
Coronary artery disease (CAD) Visit the BluePrints for Health,
or coronary heart disease, occurs Education section of bcbsde.com to
when the heart doesn’t get enough find a variety of health and wellness
nutrient-rich blood through its tools. These tools, which include health
system. CAD develops over the articles, hospital comparison tools
years as plaque (which consists and our preventive health guidelines,
of cholesterol, fat and other can help you improve your health and
substances found in the blood) lifestyle choices, and decrease the cost
builds up on the inner artery walls. of health care.
Eventually, this build up of plaque
narrows and hardens the arteries, For more information on the importance
reducing the blood flow to the of keeping your heart healthy and
heart. Reduced flow can result in a the warning signs of heart attacks,
heart attack. please visit americanheart.org. The
American Heart Association is a national
The American Heart Association health agency dedicated to building
(AHA) reports that approximately healthier lives, free of cardiovascular
7.9 million Americans ages 20 diseases and stroke.
and older have survived a heart
attack. About 8.9 million Americans
experience chest pain or discomfort
due to reduced blood supply to the
heart.
Because vascular disease symptoms
appear only after the damage
has been done, don't wait to take
action. Begin by following some Resources:
Heart Health
of the recommendations outlined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, bcbsde.com,
in this brochure or My BlueConnection
speaking with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, Preventive
your doctor. Health Guidelines
The first step
to a healthy
heart is
American Heart Association and American Stroke
Association, americanheart.org
American Heart Association and American Stroke
Guidelines
a healthy Association, americanheart.org, “Know the
lifestyle. Facts, Get the Stats 2007.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware is an independent licensee
of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Preventative Guidelines Heart Health (rev 02/10)

2. Preventive Care for Heart Health
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware (BCBSD) is committed to helping you improve your heart
health. We encourage you to follow the heart smart guidelines and checklist to help reduce
your risk of heart attack and keep your heart healthy.
Heart Smart Guidelines for Adults (Ages 22 and Older)
The following are just a few preventive health guidelines recommended by Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Delaware* related to heart health. For information on other
recommended screenings, as well as immunizations and counseling, please visit the
Customers section of bcbsde.com and, under BluePrints for Health, Education, click Heart Smart Checklist
on Preventive Health Guidelines. These guidelines can help you to take charge of your Eat healthy — select foods that
health and include health care recommendations for every age. are high in nutrients and low in
Reduce your risks by: calories. The AHA recommends
eating a wide variety from each of
• Limiting high-fat foods (especially saturated fat) the basic food groups.
• Eating more high-fiber, iron-rich (females) and calcium-rich foods Stop smoking — nicotine use is
• Limiting sodium intake the number one preventable cause
of heart disease and stroke.
• Participating in routine and frequent physical activity/exercise
Get moving — physical activity
• Receiving dietary counseling if you have high cholesterol or will build endurance, control blood
are at risk for cardiovascular disease pressure, reduce cholesterol levels
and aid in weight control.
• Discussing benefits and risks of aspirin therapy
with your physician if at risk for heart disease Lose excess pounds — obesity
is a major risk factor for heart
*Screening, immunization and counseling recommendations
disease.
may not be covered benefits under all BCBSD plans.
Please consult your benefits materials. Avoid excessive alcohol —
heavy drinking contributes to high
blood pressure, heart disease and
Heart Attack Warning Signs from the AHA stroke.
• Chest discomfort in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes, or that goes away Schedule regular checkups —
and comes back. This can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. a doctor can pinpoint major risk
factors, such as smoking, elevated
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, stomach or other upper body areas. cholesterol or blood pressure,
• Shortness of breath. Often this comes along with chest discomfort, but it can occur before the excess weight and diabetes.
chest discomfort. Control your cholesterol — check
• Other signs, including breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness. your cholesterol level with a simple
blood test. If it’s too high, dietary
• While the most common symptom for women is chest pain or discomfort, they are
changes, exercise, weight loss and/
more likely to have the other common symptoms (e.g., shortness of breath, nausea/
or drug therapy may help bring it
vomiting, back or jaw pain) than men.
down.
If you think you or someone you’re with is having a heart attack, please don’t
wait to get help. Immediately call 911 or go to a local emergency department. Keep tabs on your blood
pressure — have it checked at
Fast action matters in the treatment of a heart attack — responding quickly to warning least every two years.
signs can save lives.