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Lower your risk: Control stress. When you're stressed, your heartbeat speeds up and your blood pressure skyrockets. The next time you feel tension taking over, sit back and look at what's bothering you.

You may have had angina, dizziness, or other symptoms of heart trouble. To help diagnose your problem, your health care provider may advise a cardiac catheterization. This common procedure is sometimes also used to treat a heart problem. Learn what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.

An exercise stress test shows your heart's response to exercise. The test records your heartbeat while you walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike. It can be done in a hospital, a test center, or a doctor's office. The test is also called a stress electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG).

Cardiac nuclear imaging measures the flow of blood in your heart at rest and then during exercise. Learn what to expect before, during, and after the test.

If you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have heart disease than someone without diabetes. You can reduce your health risks by making some changes in your life.

If you have cardiomyopathy, you have a problem with the muscle tissue that makes up your heart. Cardiomyopathy means "heart muscle disease." Your heart may not be pumping as well as it should.

You don't have to give up eating out to cut down on fat, cholesterol, and salt. You just need to think about what you order. Many menus highlight low-fat and low-sodium dishes. But if you can't find what you want, ask.

Cooking with less fat may mean learning some new ways to cook. But it doesn't mean eating bland, boring food. And it doesn't mean spending hours in the kitchen. There are lots of ways to cook and season foods using less fat.

Comparing labels will help you choose foods that are low in fat, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and calories.