What Are Your Risk Factors?
What Are Your Risk Factors?
A risk factor increases your chance of having heart disease. Some risk factors can’t be controlled. But most others can be managed by making lifestyle changes and taking medications. For each risk factor you reduce, your chance of heart attack and stroke goes down. And, the length and quality of your life may go up.
ABNORMAL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
Abnormal cholesterol levels make plaque more likely to build up in the arteries. You are at risk if you have:
• Total Cholesterol greater than 200 mg/dL
• LDL (“bad”) cholesterol higher than 200 mg/dL or for
Cardiovascular patients — 70 mg/dL or higher
• HDL (“good “) cholesterol lower than 40mg/dL for Men and 50 mg/dL
for women.
• Triglycerides higher than 150 mg/dL.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure (hypertension) occurs when blood
pushes too hard against the artery walls as it flows through
these vessels. Th is damages the artery lining. You are at
risk if you have:
• Blood pressure of 140/90 or higher
SMOKING
This is the most important risk factor you can change. Smoking damages arteries and makes it easier for plaque to build up. Smokers are also at higher risk of blood clots (which can block arteries) and stroke. You are at risk if you:
• Smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipe
DIABETES
This health problem leads to a high level of sugar in your blood. It can
damage the arteries if not kept under control. Diabetes makes you more likely to have a silent heart atack (one without symptoms). You are at risk if your:
• A1c is 7% or higher
EXCESS WEIGHT
Being overweight makes other risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, more likely. Excess weight around the waist or stomach increases your heart disease risk the most. You are at risk if your:
• Waist circumference is more than: 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men).
LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
If you are not active, problems with diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight are more likely. You are at risk if:
• You exercise less than 30 minutes per day, fewer than 5 days per
Week
STRESS AND STRONG EMOTIONS
Stressful events and feelings can raise heart rate and blood pressure. Stress can also bring on feelings of depression, anxiety and anger. These feelings do not directly lead to heart disease but they do affect overall health and make quality of life worse.
Take control of your heart health:
–know your risk factors!
Risk factors are lifestyle habits and physical characteristics that contribute to your chances of developing heart disease. Below is a list of these factors to discuss with your doctor.
Risk factors you can change now
SMOKING
Do you smoke? If yes, how many packs a day? ____________
OBESITY
How much do you weight? _______________lbs.
LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Do you exercise? How long and often? _________________
Risk factors you can manage with your doctor
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
DIABETES
CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS
Do you have low levels of high-density Lipoprotein (HDL)?
Do you have elevated levels of low-density Lipoprotein (L