Only children from families at high risk of heart disease need to have their blood cholesterol levels checked. Smoking is a major risk factor for four of the five leading causes of death including heart attack, stroke, cancer and lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis. If you have had a heart attack, quitting smoking can help reduce your chances of having a second attack. Someone who has smoked for 30 to 40 years probably will not be able to quit smoking. The best way to lose weight is to increase physical activity and decrease calorie intake.
Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in the United States.