Follow up on your heart health

Eating healthy and exercising are well known tips to keep your heart healthy, but doctors at Baylor College of Medicine say don?t forget about the follow-ups.

?Many times people will see a doctor and receive a diagnosis of high cholesterol or blood pressure, for example, but they won?t follow up with another appointment,? said Dr. Joseph Coselli, professor of surgery at Baylor. ?These secondary doctor visits are needed to monitor progression of risk factors and to help find the most effective treatment options.?

Coselli recommends asking your doctor some important questions:

? What is a healthy weight for me?

? What does a balanced diet consist of?

? How do I quit smoking?

? What exercises should I add to my daily routine?

? What health screenings should I have?

? When should I follow up with my next appointment?

?You have to be responsible for your health and make important changes to keep your heart healthy,? Coselli said.