A:
You describe a healthy routine. You have already modified your genetic risk of atherosclerosis. And you understand the importance of a healthy diet.
To lower your heart disease risk even more:
- Maintain a body-mass index (BMI) of less than 25. This can help keep your blood sugar, insulin levels and blood pressure down, even if these are already in the normal range.
- Exercise every day. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise at least 5 days per week. Also, do strength training 2 to 3 times per week.
- Enjoy your few drinks. A little alcohol is good -- an average of a couple of drinks per day for men and one per day for women.
- Ideally, stop smoking cigars. But there is no evidence that an occasional cigar adversely affects your health unless you already have coronary heart disease.
- Keep taking the Lipitor. Consider a higher dose if your LDL is greater than 100 mg/dL. An LDL cholesterol level of 70 mg/dL would be ideal.
- Talk with your doctor about taking a daily baby aspirin to decrease heart-attack risk.