Increase your knowledge.
Take care of yourself and your heart health.
Others could be depending on you.
Heart disease is the #1 killer in the United States.(1)
Any one of us could be at risk without knowing it.
Did you know?
Your gender, age, or race can add to your chance of developing heart disease.
- More women than men die of heart disease, although more men have heart attacks.(1)
- As you age, your risk for heart disease increases.(1)
- At age 40, the lifetime risk for developing heart disease is 2 in 3 for men and more than 1 in 2 for women.(1)
- Heart disease causes more deaths in Americans of both genders and across most racial and ethnic groups than any other disease.(2)
- Black Americans, American Indians, Alaskan natives, Asian/Pacific islanders, and Latino Americans die at earlier ages from heart disease.(3)
How can you tell if you are at risk?
Many different risk factors (conditions or lifestyle habits) can affect your chance of developing heart disease.(4) It’s important to understand which risk factors affect you and what actions you can take to lower your risk of developing heart disease.
Check the designated boxes if you answer “yes” to any of the risk factor questions.
Risk factors you can’t control:(1,6)
❑ Increasing age
– For men: are you over age 45?
– For women: are you post menopausal or over age 55?
❑ Heredity (including race)
– Does anyone in your immediate family have a history of heart disease or diabetes?
– Are you black American or Latino American?
Risk factors you can control:(1,6)
❑ Do you have diabetes?
❑ Do you smoke?
❑ High blood pressure
– Is your blood pressure 140/90 mmHg or higher? (normal is below 120/80 mmHg)
❑ High cholesterol
– Is your total cholesterol over 200?
❑ Obesity
– Are you 30 pounds or more over your “recommended” weight?
– For men: is your waist measurement greater than 40 inches?}
– For women: is your waist measurement greater than 35 inches?
❑ Inactivity
– Do you exercise less than three times a week?
Terms you need to know.
Heart disease is an umbrella term for a number of different diseases that affect the heart.(7)
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. A blood pressure reading below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal.(1,6)
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes your heart work too hard, putting you at serious risk for heart disease and stroke.(1,6)
Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and abruptly stops beating. Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when electrical problems in the heart cause a dangerously fast heart rate.(8)
A heart attack is different. It results from damage to the heart muscle caused by blood flow blockage, rather than an electrical problem.(8)
Heart failure does not mean the heart suddenly stops working. “Failure” means that the heart is not able to pump enough blood and oxygen to meet your body’s needs.(8)
Being honest about your risk factors will get you the most realistic assessment and help your doctor develop a plan to lower your overall risk.
Here are some questions you can ask your doctor:
❑ Do I have heart disease?
❑ What tests should I have, and how often, to monitor my risk factors for developing heart disease and stroke?
❑ What do my test results mean?
❑ Are my blood pressure numbers within a normal range?
❑ Are my cholesterol numbers within a normal range?
❑ What sort of plan do you recommend for me to lower my risk?
❑ Can you help me plan a safe weight loss and exercise program?
❑ What are the possible side effects of the medications I’ve been prescribed?
Visit your doctor regularly.
Nothing replaces a discussion with your doctor or health care provider.
Talk to your doctor about your risk factors—choose two to three questions most relevant to you and write down the answers.
Take charge of your heart health.
Here are some tips to get you started.
Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.(9)
People who smoke are up to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smokers. If you smoke, QUIT!
Aim for a healthy weight.(9)
If you don’t know your ideal weight, ask your doctor. The more overweight you are—the higher your risk for heart disease.
Get moving.(9)
Make a commitment to be more physically active. Every day, aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity such as taking a brisk walk, raking, dancing, light weight lifting, house cleaning, or gardening.
Every day, aim for 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity such as taking a brisk walk.
Eat for heart health.(9)
Choose a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Be sure to include whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Know your numbers.(9)
Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), and blood glucose. Work with your doctor to improve any numbers that are not normal.
Please note: this information is not a substitute for medical care.
As always, you should consult your doctor or health care provider.
SOURCES:
1 American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2009 Update. Available at http://www.americanheart.org/
2 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion www.cdc.gov/omh/AMH/factsheets/cardio.htm. Accessed on May 20, 2009.
3 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) “Disparities in Premature Deaths from Heart Disease—50 States including the District of Columbia.” 2001 CDC MMWR Weekly, February 20, 2004.
4 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute “The Heart Truth for Women—A Speaker’s Guide.” NIH Publication No. 06-5208. Available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth
5 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Infographs, “Heart Disease Risk Factor ‘Multiplier Effect:’ in Midlife Women.” Available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/materials/infograph_multiplier/multiplier.htm. Accessed May 20, 2009.
6 U.S. Department of Human Services, National Institute for Health & National Heart Lung & Blood Institute. “Your Guide to a Healthy Heart” NIH Publication No; 06-5269, November 2005. Available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
7 Heart.com. What is Heart Disease? Available at: http://www.heart.com/heart-disease.html. Accessed May 20, 2009.
8 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Diseases and conditions index. Available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/index.html. Accessed on May 20, 2009.
9 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The Heart Truth from Dr Elizbeth G. Nabel. Available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/press/riskfactor_nabel.htm. Accessed May 20, 2009.
PRINT ARTICLE
SOURCE: Content provided and maintained by Close the Gap