1. Do you smoke cigarettes?
Yes/No
2. To your knowledge, do you have elevated blood lipids (total cholesterol greater than 240 and/or triglycerides greater than 200)?
Yes/No
3. To your knowledge, do you have high blood pressure (a reading consistently greater than 120–139 systolic and 80–89 diastolic)?
Yes/No
4. Do you eat a high-fat diet, with red meat several times a week?
Yes/No
5. Are you overweight by more than 20 lb?
Yes/No
How to Modify Your Risk ● Don’t smoke. If you smoke, your risk of heart attack is up to six times that of a woman who does not smoke. ● Follow a heart-healthy diet. This means eating lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, plus replacing trans fats with healthier options, such as monounsaturated fats (e.g., olive oil) and polyunsaturated fats. Eat fish two or three times each week, or take fish oil supplements, to obtain the omega- 3 fats that protect against cardiovascular disease and help lower blood pressure. In addition, soy protein has a positive effect on cholesterol levels, particularly if you are postmenopausal. ● Pare the pudge. Being overweight elevates bad cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as hikes your blood pressure—all conditions that compromise your cardiovascular system and stress your heart.
pressure, cause heart failure, lead to stroke, elevate triglyceride levels and produce irregular heartbeats. On the flip side, controlled drinking—particularly one glass of red wine per day—has been shown to offer several health benefits, including prevention of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer. ● De-stress. If you find yourself frequently coming unglued in response to stressors, it’s time to decompress and take life more slowly. It’s important to set aside time for some stress-management techniques, such as meditation, deep breathing or exercise.
● Have regular medical checkups. Schedule regular blood tests ( usually once a year, depending on your doctor’s instructions) in order to keep tabs on your blood lipids and blood pressure.
6. Are you inactive, getting little or no exercise?
Yes/No
7. Do you have diabetes?
Yes/No
To lose weight and keep it
8. Do you have more than one alcoholic drink a day?
Yes/No
off, you must reduce your
caloric intake to around
1,200 to 1,500 calories a
day, and exercise for at
9. Are you under high stress a good deal of the time?
Yes/No
least 30 minutes at least
three days a week.
10. Do you have a parent with heart disease?
Yes/No
SCORING
Your cardiovascular risk is low if you
have 0 to 2 yes answers, moderate if
you have 3 or 4, and high if you have 5 or more. Note: A yes answer to
question 10 may put you at an espe-
cially high risk, since children of
parents with heart disease are more
likely to develop it themselves.
● Control diabetes. It is critical to keep your blood sugar levels under control through diet, exercise and other healthy choices, and the medical management of diabetes through medication and regular blood sugar testing.
● Curb the cocktails. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood
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