Team approach can cut heart attacks.

It takes a team approach with your physician to reduce your risk of having a life-threatening heart attack or stroke, according to Allan Anderson, former president of the Dallas Council of the American Heart Association and a cardiologist at the North Texas Heart Center. The more your doctor knows about you, the better he or she can evaluate your risk and keep you healthy.

Your family history is a crucial part of the prevention equation. It is something you have no control over, but significantly affects your risk for a heart attack or stroke. The doctor better can recommend treatment if presented with a clear picture of your family's medical background. Remember that an accurate account includes more than just a relative's age and cause of death, but other medical conditions that may be inherited, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Based on this, your physician can recommend any necessary changes. Altering your lifestyle may seem difficult at first, but even a few simple steps can make a world of difference--such as choosing skim or one-percent instead of whole milk; skinless chicken or fish instead of red meat; leaner cuts of meat instead of higher fat ones; and broiling or baking instead of frying. Getting exercise is equally important to cardiovascular fitness. If you a, e nervous about starting an exercise regimen, don't be. "Physical activity is vital to your health," Anderson points...