The risk factors for cardiac disease are certainly family history and your age, which you really have no control over. But other things, such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are things that we do have ultimate control over and a lot of these are related to diet and activity. So my advice would be to make sure that you emphasize a good diet, low on salt, low on fat, and that you have regular exercise to try to maintain a normal body weight, and that you see your doctor frequently to make sure that your goals -- your blood pressure, your blood sugar, and your blood cholesterol goals are in fact met.

Paul L. Underwood Jr., M.D., is an interventional cardiologist in Phoenix, was the 10th president of the Atlanta-based Association of Black Cardiologists 2004-2006 (ABC), Inc.