Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States but impacts some communities disproportionately. Health issues that increase the risk of heart disease are common in African American communities, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and being overweight. Having multiple risk factors increases the risk of heart disease. But the good news is that there’s a lot we can do to prevent it.

Some actionable steps to prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease include:

• Be more physically active
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a nutritious diet
• Quit smoking
• Reduce stress
• Get 7-9 hours of quality sleep
• Track your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar numbers

Small steps can lead to big changes. Learn more about heart health and how to avoid heart disease.