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Cardiovascular Health & Wellness
The Importance of Cardiovascular Health

Protecting your heart and blood vessels is one of the best ways to support your overall health and long-term wellbeing. Your cardiovascular system is responsible for pimping oxygen and nutrients throughout your body, keeping every organ working properly. When you heart is strong, you have more energy, better endurance, and a lower risk of serious conditions like heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

The good news is that small, everyday choices can make a big difference for your heart. Eating a balanced diet, staying active, managing stress and avoiding smoking all play an important role in keeping your cardiovascular system healthy. By making your heart health a priority now, you can feel better today and protect your health for the future.

Explore the Controllable Risk Factors that Impact Your Cardiovascular Health

While some of the risk factors of cardiovascular health are not controllable, such as age or family history, there are many things you can do to improve your heart health. Explore these different ways you can help your heart stay healthy and strong.

Blood Pressure
What Is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure measures how hard your heart works to pump blood through your body. It’s recorded with two numbers: systolic (when the heart beats) over diastolic (when the heart relaxes). A normal reading is between 90/60 mm Hg and below 120/80 mm Hg. Numbers outside this range can strain your heart and blood vessels, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, or fainting.

Because high blood pressure or low blood pressure often has no symptoms, regular checks are important. If your readings stay too high or too low—or you notice warning signs like dizziness, headaches, chest pain, or shortness of breath—see your doctor right away. Monitoring your numbers helps catch problems early and protect your long-term health.

Explore What Blood Pressure Means
Learn About High Blood Pressure Learn About Low Blood Pressure
A teal medical kit, stethoscope, and heart with an EKG line on a black background symbolize healthcare, conveying trust and urgency.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol & Health

Cholesterol is a fatty substance your body needs to build cells and make hormones, but too much of the wrong type can harm your heart. LDL (“bad”) cholesterol builds up in arteries, HDL (“good”) cholesterol helps clear it, and triglycerides are another fat that affect heart health. Keeping these numbers in balance is key to lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke.

High cholesterol has no symptoms, so routine blood tests are the only way to know your levels. The good news is that it can be managed through healthy eating, exercise, not smoking, and—if needed—medications. Controlling cholesterol early is one of the best ways to protect your long-term health.

Learn More About Cholesterol & Health Understand High Cholesterol
Green icon showing a test tube next to a droplet and a document. Represents lab testing or analysis. The tone is informative and scientific.
Blood Sugar
Blood Sugar and Your Health

Blood sugar (glucose) is your body’s main source of energy, but both high and low levels can be harmful. Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves, raising the risk of heart disease, kidney problems, and type 2 diabetes. Low blood sugar can cause immediate symptoms like shakiness, sweating, confusion, and, in severe cases, fainting or seizures.

Food, especially carbohydrates, plays a major role in blood sugar control. Choosing balanced meals and using tools like the Glycemic Index can help reduce spikes and keep energy steady. Because problems often develop without symptoms, regular screening with your doctor is essential for early detection and long-term protection.

Better Understand Blood Sugar & Health Riverside Diabetes Services
Weight
Why Weight Matters

Excess body fat affects nearly every system in your body. Fat is more than just stored energy. It produces hormones and chemicals that can disrupt balance and raise your risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Where fat is stored also matters. Belly fat, which surrounds your organs, is more harmful than fat under the skin and is strongly linked to greater health risks.

Losing just 5–10% of your body weight can boost your energy, relieve pain, and lower your risk for chronic disease. Health is about more than a number on the scale. Staying active, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and managing stress all play a vital role in helping you feel your best and protecting your long-term health.

Discover Why Weight Matters
Healthy Food
Nutrition and Your Health

What you eat impacts your energy, mood, sleep and long-term disease risk. While food is your body’s fuel, the quality of that fuel matters. Nutrient-dense foods provide the body with vitamins and minerals, while excess calories and poor nutrition can lead to illness, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Modern eating habits, like oversized portions, sugary drinks, and frequent fast food, make it easy to overeat while still missing out on essential nutrients. The good news is that small, sustainable changes make a big difference. By tracking what you eat and focusing on nutrient-rich choices that deliver more value per calorie, you can build healthier habits that support long-term wellness.

Learn More About How Food Impacts Your Body What Am I Supposed to Eat?
Stress Management
Stress and Your Health

Stress is a natural biological response that can sometimes be helpful, giving you extra focus or energy in challenging situations. Stress comes from many sources such as work pressures, financial strain, health challenges, and relationship difficulties.

But when stress is intense or long-lasting, it can harm your body and mind. Chronic stress raises the risk for heart disease, disrupts metabolism, weakens immunity, disrupts digestion, and impacts mental health.

The good news is that stress can be managed. Healthy habits like exercise, good sleep, mindfulness, balanced nutrition, and social support reduce its impact.

Ignoring stress, on the other hand, can lead to long-term health problems. Recognizing the signs early and taking action not only improves your daily quality of life but also helps protect you from serious disease down the road. Recognizing and addressing stress early protects both your daily well-being and your long-term health.

Learn More About Stress & Your Health
Silhouette of a head with a question mark inside, surrounded by gears, symbolizing critical thinking and problem-solving on a black background.
Quit Smoking & Vaping
Smoking, Vaping and Your Health

Smoking and vaping damage nearly every organ in the body and are leading causes of heart disease, stroke, and complications from diabetes. Nicotine raises blood pressure, blood sugar, and insulin resistance, while vaping still delivers harmful chemicals that injure the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.

Secondhand smoke and aerosol also put children, family, and others at risk. The most important step you can take for your health (and for those around you) is to quit. Stopping tobacco use quickly improves heart and lung health and lowers your risk of serious disease.

Learn More About How Smoking & Vaping Impact Your Health Best Practices for Quitting Smoking
Physical Activity
Health and Physical Activity

Physical activity and exercise aren’t just about weight. They improve heart health, sleep, stress levels, mood and energy even if the number on the scale doesn’t change. Just 150 minutes of moderate activity plus two days of strength training each week helps keep bones, joints, and muscles strong while lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

Staying active also supports healthy aging and independence, while too little movement increases long-term health risks. That’s why your doctor may ask about your activity levels during checkups; it’s a vital sign of overall wellness.

Learn More about Health & Physical Activity Riverside Wellness & Fitness Centers
Sleep
Sleep and Your Health

Sleep restores energy, repair tissues, and support brain function. Quality rest helps you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day, while poor sleep can raise your risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and even a weakened immune system.

Getting 7–9 hours of restful sleep each night improves mood, lowers stress, sharpens memory, and boosts focus. Healthy habits, like keeping a regular schedule, limiting screens before bed, and creating a calm environment, make better sleep easier and protect both body and mind.

Sleep Medicine Services
Alcohol
Health and Alcohol

Your liver can only process about one drink per hour. More than that builds up in your system and stresses your liver, heart, and other organs. Moderate drinking means up to one drink per day for women and two for men; drinking more increases the risk of serious problems, especially if you have diabetes, liver disease, are pregnant, or take certain medications.

Alcohol may make you feel relaxed, but it disrupts deep sleep and can lead to long-term issues. It can also lead to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), which is treatable with medical support. Making informed choices—and seeking help if needed—protects your health and well-being.

Learn More about Alcohol & Health
What Is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure measures how hard your heart works to pump blood through your body. It’s recorded with two numbers: systolic (when the heart beats) over diastolic (when the heart relaxes). A normal reading is between 90/60 mm Hg and below 120/80 mm Hg. Numbers outside this range can strain your heart and blood vessels, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, or fainting.

Because high blood pressure or low blood pressure often has no symptoms, regular checks are important. If your readings stay too high or too low—or you notice warning signs like dizziness, headaches, chest pain, or shortness of breath—see your doctor right away. Monitoring your numbers helps catch problems early and protect your long-term health.

Explore What Blood Pressure Means
Learn About High Blood Pressure Learn About Low Blood Pressure
A teal medical kit, stethoscope, and heart with an EKG line on a black background symbolize healthcare, conveying trust and urgency.
Cholesterol & Health

Cholesterol is a fatty substance your body needs to build cells and make hormones, but too much of the wrong type can harm your heart. LDL (“bad”) cholesterol builds up in arteries, HDL (“good”) cholesterol helps clear it, and triglycerides are another fat that affect heart health. Keeping these numbers in balance is key to lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke.

High cholesterol has no symptoms, so routine blood tests are the only way to know your levels. The good news is that it can be managed through healthy eating, exercise, not smoking, and—if needed—medications. Controlling cholesterol early is one of the best ways to protect your long-term health.

Learn More About Cholesterol & Health Understand High Cholesterol
Green icon showing a test tube next to a droplet and a document. Represents lab testing or analysis. The tone is informative and scientific.
Blood Sugar and Your Health

Blood sugar (glucose) is your body’s main source of energy, but both high and low levels can be harmful. Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves, raising the risk of heart disease, kidney problems, and type 2 diabetes. Low blood sugar can cause immediate symptoms like shakiness, sweating, confusion, and, in severe cases, fainting or seizures.

Food, especially carbohydrates, plays a major role in blood sugar control. Choosing balanced meals and using tools like the Glycemic Index can help reduce spikes and keep energy steady. Because problems often develop without symptoms, regular screening with your doctor is essential for early detection and long-term protection.

Better Understand Blood Sugar & Health Riverside Diabetes Services
Why Weight Matters

Excess body fat affects nearly every system in your body. Fat is more than just stored energy. It produces hormones and chemicals that can disrupt balance and raise your risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Where fat is stored also matters. Belly fat, which surrounds your organs, is more harmful than fat under the skin and is strongly linked to greater health risks.

Losing just 5–10% of your body weight can boost your energy, relieve pain, and lower your risk for chronic disease. Health is about more than a number on the scale. Staying active, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and managing stress all play a vital role in helping you feel your best and protecting your long-term health.

Discover Why Weight Matters
Nutrition and Your Health

What you eat impacts your energy, mood, sleep and long-term disease risk. While food is your body’s fuel, the quality of that fuel matters. Nutrient-dense foods provide the body with vitamins and minerals, while excess calories and poor nutrition can lead to illness, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Modern eating habits, like oversized portions, sugary drinks, and frequent fast food, make it easy to overeat while still missing out on essential nutrients. The good news is that small, sustainable changes make a big difference. By tracking what you eat and focusing on nutrient-rich choices that deliver more value per calorie, you can build healthier habits that support long-term wellness.

Learn More About How Food Impacts Your Body What Am I Supposed to Eat?
Stress and Your Health

Stress is a natural biological response that can sometimes be helpful, giving you extra focus or energy in challenging situations. Stress comes from many sources such as work pressures, financial strain, health challenges, and relationship difficulties.

But when stress is intense or long-lasting, it can harm your body and mind. Chronic stress raises the risk for heart disease, disrupts metabolism, weakens immunity, disrupts digestion, and impacts mental health.

The good news is that stress can be managed. Healthy habits like exercise, good sleep, mindfulness, balanced nutrition, and social support reduce its impact.

Ignoring stress, on the other hand, can lead to long-term health problems. Recognizing the signs early and taking action not only improves your daily quality of life but also helps protect you from serious disease down the road. Recognizing and addressing stress early protects both your daily well-being and your long-term health.

Learn More About Stress & Your Health
Silhouette of a head with a question mark inside, surrounded by gears, symbolizing critical thinking and problem-solving on a black background.
Smoking, Vaping and Your Health

Smoking and vaping damage nearly every organ in the body and are leading causes of heart disease, stroke, and complications from diabetes. Nicotine raises blood pressure, blood sugar, and insulin resistance, while vaping still delivers harmful chemicals that injure the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.

Secondhand smoke and aerosol also put children, family, and others at risk. The most important step you can take for your health (and for those around you) is to quit. Stopping tobacco use quickly improves heart and lung health and lowers your risk of serious disease.

Learn More About How Smoking & Vaping Impact Your Health Best Practices for Quitting Smoking
Health and Physical Activity

Physical activity and exercise aren’t just about weight. They improve heart health, sleep, stress levels, mood and energy even if the number on the scale doesn’t change. Just 150 minutes of moderate activity plus two days of strength training each week helps keep bones, joints, and muscles strong while lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline.

Staying active also supports healthy aging and independence, while too little movement increases long-term health risks. That’s why your doctor may ask about your activity levels during checkups; it’s a vital sign of overall wellness.

Learn More about Health & Physical Activity Riverside Wellness & Fitness Centers
Sleep and Your Health

Sleep restores energy, repair tissues, and support brain function. Quality rest helps you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day, while poor sleep can raise your risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and even a weakened immune system.

Getting 7–9 hours of restful sleep each night improves mood, lowers stress, sharpens memory, and boosts focus. Healthy habits, like keeping a regular schedule, limiting screens before bed, and creating a calm environment, make better sleep easier and protect both body and mind.

Sleep Medicine Services
Health and Alcohol

Your liver can only process about one drink per hour. More than that builds up in your system and stresses your liver, heart, and other organs. Moderate drinking means up to one drink per day for women and two for men; drinking more increases the risk of serious problems, especially if you have diabetes, liver disease, are pregnant, or take certain medications.

Alcohol may make you feel relaxed, but it disrupts deep sleep and can lead to long-term issues. It can also lead to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), which is treatable with medical support. Making informed choices—and seeking help if needed—protects your health and well-being.

Learn More about Alcohol & Health
Calculating Your Risk of Heart Disease

Understanding your risk for heart disease is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your health. Doctors use risk assessment tools that look at factors like age, sex, race, cholesterol, blood pressure, and medication use to estimate your chances of developing heart disease in the future. These tools can give you a clearer picture of your heart health and help guide conversations with your provider about prevention.

These assessments are meant for people who have not already been diagnosed with heart disease, such as atherosclerosis or heart failure. If you qualify, a risk assessment tool can help you identify lifestyle changes, like eating a heart-healthy diet, staying active, or managing blood pressure, that make a real difference in protecting your heart for years to come.
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Learn More and Calculate Your Own Risk
American College of Cardiology ASCVD Risk Calculator American Heart Association’s PREVENT Tool
A senior couple walking outside and staying healthy
FAQs

Have More Questions?

Do you have more questions about heart health? Visit our Cardiovascular Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page for more information.

Riverside Heart & Vascular Services

Explore some of the specialty programs available across Riverside Health to address your unique cardiovascular needs.

Riverside Structural Heart Services

Caring for disorders of the heart valves and structure, our program offers transcatheter, minimally invasive and open-heart options.

Riverside Cardiac Surgery Program

Riverside Cardiothoracic Surgery, in affiliation with UVA Health, combines clinical expertise with cutting edge technology to surgically care for conditions of the heart.

Riverside Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) & Heart Rhythm Program

Arrhythmias such as AFib are very common, but they also increase risk of other conditions. Our team cares for patients experiencing heart rhythm issues caused by electrical problems in the heart and work to prevent complications like stroke.