Assessments.
Are you at risk for a heart disease? You can't control some risk factors. But lifestyle changes can help reduce many other risks factors. Start here—and consult your physician or health care provider for a plan that's safe and effective for you.
Know your numbers.
As with most health conditions, there are many factors that can influence your heart health. Some you can control, some you can't.
Risk factors you should be aware of that you can’t control include:
- Your age. The older you are, the more likely you are to get heart disease.
- Your gender. Women account for 60% of all stroke deaths.
- Heredity. If members of your family have had heart attacks or strokes, you are at greater risk.
- Race. African-American women have higher rates of cardiovascular disease than Caucasian women. Latino women have unique risk factors, as well.
- Diabetes. Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, putting them at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
Risk factors you can control are:
- High cholesterol. Cholesterol can build up with other substances in the inner walls of arteries and can reduce blood flow and even totally block arteries. It can also lead to blood clots that cause heart attack and stroke.
- High blood pressure. High blood pressure makes your heart work harder than it has to and can injure your heart and your arteries.
- Smoking. It's the most preventable cause of death - including death by cardiovascular disease.
- Physical activity. If you don’t exercise, you’re much more likely to develop heart disease or stroke.
- Obesity. You have an increased risk of high blood pressure if you are 20 pounds or more overweight.
- Stress. Too much stress can lead to unhealthy behaviors - overeating, smoking, etc., that can be bad for your heart.
- Birth control pills. Many women taking oral contraceptives experience a small increase in their blood pressure.
- Alcohol and illegal drugs. Too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. Many illegal drugs, including cocaine, have also been linked to heart attack and stroke.
Talk with your doctor about all of these risk factors. Together, you can work out a plan to take charge of the factors you can control—and monitor the ones you can’t. Your heart will thank you!
When you have a heart check up, your doctor will look at your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and other indicators of heart health. Knowing your numbers in these critical areas is an important part of minimizing your risk of cardiovascular disease and keeping your heart healthy.
The chart below gives you an overview of the numbers you need to know. Talk with your doctor about where your numbers fit.
| Factor | Goal | |
|---|---|---|
| Triglycerides | <150 mg/dL | |
| Blood Pressure | <120/80 mmHg | |
| Fasting Glucose | <100 mg/dL | |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | <25 Kg/m² | |
| Waist Circumference | <35 inches | |
| Exercise | Minimum of 30 minutes most days, if not all days of the week | |
| Total Cholesterol | Less than 200 mg/dL | |
| LDL ("Bad") Cholesterol | LDL cholesterol goals vary. | |
| Less than 100 mg/dL 100 to 129 mg/dL 130 to 159 mg/dL 160 to 189 mg/dL 190 mg/dL and above |
Optimal Near/Above Optimal Borderline High High Very High |
|
| HDL ("Good") Cholesterol | 50 mg/dL or higher | |