As we get older we’re more at risk for heart disease. We can’t change our family history or genetics, but Dr. Morris Kelly, Cardiology, says there are lifestyle choices and medical therapies that can lower our risk of heart disease. 

Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and lack of exercise.

"Those are things that you can actually do something about on a daily basis. It is important that you go to your primary care doctor, have them measure those items and also do that on a regular basis," Kelley said.

He also said it's important to know what your blood pressure is, know what your cholesterol is, know what your blood glucose level is, and if it’s high, it needs to be treated.

The earlier you can identify those risk factors, identify those things that you can change, and can actually make some changes in them, then the better off you are.

"The earlier we can identify the disease and start the treatment process, the better life you’re going to have," Kelley said.