Heart Health Heart Disease Ask an Expert: What Are the First Steps I Should Take to Address My Heart Disease Risk? By Verywell Health Editors Updated on August 10, 2023 Fact checked by Sarah Scott Print This article is part of Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Xiaoyu Liu / Verywell Meet the Expert Jessica Shepherd, MD MBA, FACOG, is a board-certified OB-GYN and the former Chief Medical Officer for Verywell Health. She is the founder and CEO of Sanctum Med + Wellness, a wellness concierge practice, and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Verywell Health: What are the first steps I should take to address my risk for heart disease? Dr. Shepherd: Adequate change takes one small step at a time. It’s important to remember this, because disease doesn't happen overnight. Oftentimes, substantial changes are needed to address heart disease risk, and it can take a long time to see the effects of these efforts. It can be difficult to commit to the lifestyle changes needed when you have to wait to see the benefits. Addressing your risk for heart disease should include a heart-healthy diet, engaging in physical activity, and reducing stress. However, we see more positive outcomes once we recognize that this is a journey and not a checklist. We need all people to be able to locate healthy, affordable food options, engage in low-cost physical activity, get access to quality health care, and find representation within the healthcare system. If so, then we can start to see real change. It all starts with how we, as healthcare providers, communicate the necessary interventions and lifestyle habits. How Much Do You Really Know About Heart Disease? 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Morera LP, Marchiori GN, Medrano LA, Defagó MD. Stress, dietary patterns and cardiovascular disease: a mini-review. Front Neurosci. 2019;13:1226. doi:10.3389/fnins.2019.01226 See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit