How to prevent a diagnosis that's a ‘silent assassin' for the heart, cardiologist warns

The useful part

Much of heart health is in your control, with up to 80% of heart disease and stroke preventable with lifestyle changes, the American Heart Association notes. Doctors encourage patients to eat a healthy diet, exercise more and reach a healthy weight. They warn against a sedentary lifestyle, and a menu filled with processed meats and sugary drinks.

How it works

• James Stone, a cardiologist at the South Heart Clinic in Harlingen, Texas, focuses his patient warnings and education on one common diagnosis in particular.
• Take action to prevent diabetes Stone says many of his heart patients have Type 2 diabetes, and he's taken aback that they seem OK with having the disease.
• "If I were to give a diagnosis of cancer, the patient would be shocked and mortified, and they would do everything they can to try to make things better.
• (But) when I talk to my patients about diabetes, they make it seem like, 'Oh, I've got it.
• "I look at diabetes as a silent assassin, because you have diabetes for five to 10 years, feel fine, be told A1C is controlled … and then next thing you know, here comes the stroke, here comes the heart...