Your Heart Disease Risk

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KEY POINTS

• Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States.
• Your age, gender, race, and other factors can increase or reduce your risk for heart disease.
• Your healthcare provider can calculate your risk and tell you what to do to help prevent serious problems later.

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Why is it important to know your risk of heart disease?

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. When you know what your risk is, you have a better idea of what to do to reduce your risk.

Several factors are used to estimate your risk of developing heart disease in the next 10 years. Some have a big impact on your personal risk. Two people who have the same weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure can have different risk levels if:

• One person is over age 65 (higher risk) and the other person is 42 years old
• One person is male (higher risk) and the other is female
• One person is African American (higher risk) and the other is white

Your healthcare provider can calculate your risk and tell you what to do to help prevent serious problems later. Calculating your 10-year risk for heart disease is recommended every 4 to 6 years if you have not already been diagnosed with heart disease.

What things affect your risk of heart disease?

Some of the things that affect your risk of heart disease are out of your control, such as:

• Age. In men, the risk for heart disease starts to increase at age 45. In women, the risk starts to increase at age 55.
• Family history. If a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, had heart disease before the age of 55 years (for a male relative) or 65 years (for a female relative), your risk increases.
• Gender. Men are at greater risk of heart disease than pre-menopausal women. Once past menopause, a woman’s risk is similar to a man’s risk.
• Race. African Americans are more likely to have high blood pressure and develop heart disease than other ethnic groups. Hispanics appear to have lower rates of heart disease, even if they have other risk factors.

However, most of the things that increase your risk of heart disease are under your control:

• Alcohol use. If men have more than 2 drinks per day, or women have more than 1 drink per day, alcohol can cause your heart to get bigger and can weaken your heart muscle. Heavy alcohol use is also a common cause of irregular and fast heartbeats, called atrial fibrillation.
• Blood pressure. Having high blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease. Normal blood pressure ranges up to 120/80. The first, upper number (120 in this example) is the pressure when the heart beats and pushes blood out to the rest of the body. The second, lower number (80 in this example) is the pressure when the heart rests between beats. The higher your blood pressure is, the more it increases your risk of heart attack.
• Cholesterol. Your total cholesterol should be below 200. HDL (good) cholesterol should be above 40 for men or above 50 for women. Ask your healthcare provider what your LDL (bad) cholesterol should be.
• Diabetes. Having diabetes makes you twice as likely to develop heart disease. If you do not control diabetes, you are more likely to develop heart disease at an earlier age than other people.
• Diet. Eating fewer calories to lose excess weight helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Cutting back on salt (sodium) helps lower blood pressure. Choosing foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol helps improve cholesterol levels. A healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help improve cholesterol levels, lower your blood pressure, lower your risk of heart disease, and lower your risk of diabetes.
• Hormone replacement therapy for women. Taking estrogen plus progestin increases your risk for heart attack during the first few years of use. Most experts recommend short-term use if hormone therapy is needed. You should take hormones at the lowest effective dosage, and only for as long as you need them.
• Physical activity. Not being active increases the risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%. Being physically active and having less times when you are not active is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk for heart disease.
• Tobacco use. Smoking can damage and tighten blood vessels, raise blood pressure, and raise your cholesterol. Tobacco is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease.
• Weight. Being overweight increases your risk of heart disease. The more you weigh, the more blood you have flowing through your body. Your heart has to work harder to pump the extra blood. Over time, your heart may not be able to keep up with the extra load.

Lifestyle changes can help you take control of your health. Make healthy choices about food, physical activity, keeping a healthy weight, alcohol use, and smoking.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about your risk for heart disease. Get your blood pressure, blood glucose (sugar), and cholesterol levels checked regularly.