Take Action to Avoid Heart Attack or Stroke

Healthy choices go a long way in lowering your risk for heart attack or stroke. Try these three heart-smart strategies:

1.  Kick the Habit

How smoking affects your heart: Cigarettes are linked to about 25% of heart disease-related deaths. Within just a year of quitting, you will have cut your risk of developing heart disease in half.

How your provider can help: Ask them for tobacco cessation products or other tools to help you quit. It's worth the effort to stop smoking.

2.  Use Aspirin as Directed

How aspirin affects your heart: Low-dose aspirin thins the blood when you take it everyday. This helps prevent blood clots that can trigger strokes and heart attacks.

How your provider can help: Daily aspirin is not for everyone. Talk with your provider to see whether this is right for you.

3.  Control Your Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

How these conditions affect your heart: Plaque buildup from cholesterol makes it hard for blood to flow throughout the body. A high pressure of blood against your vessel walls makes your heart work harder and less effectively. Is a low-dose CT Heart Scan right for you? Find out more about CT Heart Scans.

How your provider can help: They can prescribe any medications that can control your cholesterol and blood pressure. You have a part to play too. A healthy lifestyle — not smoking, not drinking too much alcohol, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight — can lessen the strain on your kidneys, blood vessels and heart. 

Need help finding a provider? WellConnect offers a complimentary concierge service where you can connect with specialists who help with establishing relationships with healthcare providers, navigating health insurance, and accessing CRH services.

 

View All Success Stories
CRH banner

CRH News

  • Columbus Regional Health and Cigna Healthcare Reach Coverage Agreement

    Jul 3, 2025, 15:10 by DeClue, A.
    Columbus Regional Health is pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with Cigna Healthcare. Columbus Regional Health is in network with Cigna commercial medical plans.
    Full story
  • Statement Regarding Recent Closure Announcements

    Jun 30, 2025, 18:15 by DeClue, A.
    Due to mounting financial pressures, Columbus Regional Health has made the difficult decision to close its Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, as well as outpatient practice, CRH Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.
    Full story
  • Introducing CarePayment -- A Friendly Payment Plan Option

    Jun 26, 2025, 09:09 by DeClue, A.
    You may be eligible for a CarePayment plan if you or someone you are a guarantor for has a current payment plan with terms over 12 months.
    Full story
  • Columbus Regional Health Announces New Foundation President

    Jun 22, 2025, 18:15 by DeClue, A.
    Columbus Regional Health is pleased to announce that Tanya Hand has accepted the role of president of Columbus Regional Health Foundation. She will start in the position on June 30, 2025. Hand will replace current president, Julie Abedian, who announced her plan to retire as Executive Vice President and Chief Community Impact Officer and as CRH Foundation President, effective August 21, 2025.
    Full story
  • First EV-ICD Procedure Performed at CRH

    May 13, 2025, 13:42 by Newton, A.
    Congratulations to cardiac electrophysiologist Albert Sey, MD, MPH, and cardiothoracic surgeon Gregory Dedinsky, MD, FACS, on performing the first Extra Vascular Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (EV-ICD) procedure at CRH, with support from Surgical and Cardiac Cath Lab staff! The EV-ICD procedure treats sudden cardiac arrest and abnormal heartbeats with defibrillation and special pacing therapy.
    Full story
  • Cigna Health Plans Soon to be Out-of-Network

    May 13, 2025, 08:10 by DeClue, A.
    This means patients insured by Cigna would be subject for out-of-network fees for services rendered through any CRH facility or physician office.
    Full story