Prevention & Resources
Prevention is the best defense against heart disease. The Riverside Heart & Vascular Institute encourages heart-healthy living for people of all ages with exercise, nutrition and other programs. Take charge of your health with screenings and events designed to help you manage your risk of heart disease.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing a vascular disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases have different risk factors. Common risk factors that are associated with all four major vascular conditions are:
- diabetes
- heart disease
- male gender
- postmenopausal women
- smoking
- age
- obesity
- high blood pressure
- lack of exercise
- diet high in saturated fat
- family history
Although these risk factors increase a person's risk for a vascular disease, they do not necessarily cause a vascular disease. People with one or more risk factors may never develop a disease, while others develop a disease with no known risk factors. Knowing the risk factors for any disease can help to guide you into the appropriate actions, including changing behaviors and being clinically monitored for the disease.
Smoking Cessation
Are you ready to quit smoking for good? Riverside Medical Center has teamed up with the American Lung Association to bring you the nationally-renowned smoking cessation program Freedom from Smoking®. For more information about this 7-Week course call Respiratory Therapy at 815-935-7517.
Heart Screenings & Risk Assessments
It’s relatively common to have one or more risk factor for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a family history of heart-related conditions. If you’re at risk, take action.
- Take the free online heart health risk assessment
- Get a CT Heart Scan
- Complete a printable version of the Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Risk Assessment and bring the form to your next doctor visit.
- Learn more about your heart health with Riverside’s online quizzes and calculators
- Schedule regular heart check-ups by calling 1-844-404-HRTS (4787)
Healthy Living
Visit Riverside’s Health Information Library for a comprehensive collection of educational materials, articles and interactive tools about heart disease and other heart-related conditions. While you’re there, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore various heart-healthy recipes and daily tips to keep your heart beating strong.