Certain risk factors affect your chances of developing heart disease.Some of these factors are beyond your control, such as getting older, being male, or having a family history of heart disease; however, other factors you may be able to control include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Obesity, your amount of physical activity, and whether or not you smokeIf you want to calculate your risk of developing heart disease, you need to look at several different parameters.You will add up your score to see how it relates to your risk of heart disease.
Step 1: You can see your doctor for a physical and lab work.
To calculate your risk of heart disease, you will have to test your health.Your doctor should be able to do this.She will take a sample of your blood and test it for substances.Your doctor will measure your blood pressure.Blood pressure is the strength that your blood exerts on the inside walls of veins and arteries.A higher risk for heart attack or stroke is created if the blood is too high.A sample of your blood can be sent to the lab by your doctor.She should look for your amount of blood sugar.Two hours after eating, a normal bloodglucose level is 7.8mmol/L.Diabetes can be indicated by higher levels of 11.1mmol/l or more after eating.If you take the test while fast, your target levels will be different.Your cholesterol levels will be tested by the blood sample.Bad cholesterol builds up in the arteries, while good cholesterol helps the body process bad cholesterol.A healthy LDL level is generally below 100 and a healthy HDL is around 40.
Step 2: Consider your age.
The risk of heart disease is rare in people younger than 30 years old, but increases with age for both men and women.Men of the same age group have a slightly higher risk of heart disease than women.Take your age into account.Add or subtract from the baseline.If you are male, subtract 1 point if you're between 30 and 34 years old.For every 5 years, add one point.If you are between 65 and 69 years old, add 6 points.7 points should be added by the highest age group.If you are between 30 and 34 years old, subtract 9 points from the baseline.Subtract 4 for 35 to 39 and 0 for 40 to 44.Add 3 points for 45 to 49, 6 for 50 to 54, 7 for 55 to 59, and 8 for 60 to 74 years.
Step 3: You should add in your LDL levels.
LDL cholesterol is bad for your heart and blood vessels.They are deposited on the walls of your coronary arteries and cause plaque to form.This plaque can lead to heart disease.Add or subtract from your answers.If you are male, subtract 3 points if your LDL level is under 100.Add 0 points for 100 to 159, 1 for 160 to 190, and 2 for more than 190.If you are female, subtract 2 points if your LDL level is below 100.0 points are added for 100 to 159 and 2 for more than 160.
Step 4: Factor in the good cholesterol.
Good cholesterol is something that lowers your risk of cardiovascular diseases.The good thing about it is that it transports bad cholesterol back to the body.If you are male, add 2 points if you have a low HDL level.Add 1 point for 35 to 44, 0 for 45 to 59, and subtract 1 for more than or equal to 60.If you are female, add 5 points if you have a low HDL level.Add 2 for 35 to 44, 1 for 45 to 49, 0 for 50 to 59 and subtract two for more than or equal to 60.
Step 5: Consider your blood pressure in relation to heart disease.
High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease.The upper and lower values of blood pressure are called systolic pressure and diastolic pressure.High blood pressure is called hypertension.The target blood pressure for people with diabetes is lower.If you are male and your blood pressure is less than 130/85, add 0 points.If you add 1 you can get a reading of 130/85.For a reading of 140/90, add 2.For pressure greater than or equal to 160/100, add 3.If your blood pressure is less than 120/80, subtract 3 points.For a reading of 120/80, add 0 points.2 for systolic pressure between 140/90 and 159/99.Add 3 for blood pressure greater than or equal to 160/100.If the pressures fall in different ranges, take the higher reading.If you are male and your pressure is 170/90, add 3 points instead of 2.
Step 6: There is an account for possible diabetes.
Diabetes is related to heart disease.At some point in a person's life, they are twice as likely to develop heart disease as non-diabetics.This is due to the fact that people with diabetes are more likely to have high blood pressure and also have elevated blood sugar levels.Add 0 points if you don't have diabetes.If you have diabetes or take anti-diabetic drugs, add if you are male and female.
Step 7: It's a good idea to exercise regularly.
Exercise can give you moderate protection against heart disease.Being physically active can lower your blood pressure, help to lower cholesterol levels, and reduce your chance of having a heart attack or stroke.Doctors say you should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise.25 minutes of vigorous exercise can be done three days a week.Moderate to intense strength training is recommended two days per week.If you are male or female, subtract 1 point to meet the guidelines.If you don't add 1 point.
Step 8: Smoking should be stopped.
Smoking increases your chances of having a heart disease.Tobacco damages heart muscle and blood vessels, while smoking in general lowers HDL cholesterol, and raises blood pressure.If you are male or female, add 0 points.If you are a smoker, you should add 2 points.If you have smoked a cigarette, cigar, or pipe in the previous month, you are a smoker.
Step 9: You have to factor in the diet.
The diet is protective against heart disease.Blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, and high cholesterol can be controlled by the foods you eat.To get the best results, try to eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.Red meat and sugars should be avoided.It's important to get plenty of fiber.It is known thatsoluble fiber in oatmeal reduces bad cholesterol in the blood stream.Guidelines from the American Heart Association are available.If you meet either male or female, check these and subtract one point.If you do not, add one point.
Step 10: Add up your points.
All of the parameters for risk and prevention have been scored.You can add up your points from the previous sections to see your final score.If you are a 62 year old woman, regular exerciser, non-smoker, diabetic, and have a good cholesterol level, you will get 8 points.If you are a 48 year old male who doesn't exercise, smokes, eats poorly, has diabetes, and has a blood pressure of 160/100, you have a problem.
Step 11: If you are male, calculate your risk of heart disease.
Take your point total and find the percentage.This percentage shows the risk of developing heart disease or experiencing a cardiac event in the next 10 years.The points-risk relationship is different for males and females.If you are a male, a point total of less than -3 is a 1% risk of heart disease over the next 10 years.You have a 2% risk for -2 or -1 points, 3% for 0 points and 4% for 1 or 2 points.The 48 year old male has a score of 17His 10 year risk is more than 50%.More than 56 people out of 100 with a similar score will have a heart attack or cardiac event in the next 10 years.
Step 12: If you're female, calculate your risk.
The risk of heart disease in the next 10 years is 1% if you have a total point score of less than -2 points.There is a 2% risk for -1, 0 or 1 point, 3% for 2 or 3 points, 4% for 4 points and 5% for 5 points.A female has a score of 11.She has a 10% ten year risk of heart disease.13 out of 100 with a similar score will experience a heart attack or other cardiac event in the next ten years.
Step 13: There are changes you can make to lower your risk.
If you have a 20% or higher chance of having a heart condition in the next 10 years, you should seriously consider making lifestyle changes.You can control a lot of the other parameters, even though you can't control your age.If you have high LDL cholesterol, you can reduce it by exercising regularly and taking drugs to lower it.Even if you got a good score, talk to your doctor about your heart health.She will be able to suggest ways in which you can improve, including quitting smoking, controlling your blood pressure, eating and exercising better, or lowering your bad cholesterol.If you have markers in your blood that are associated with a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke, your doctor may want to check your arteries for cholesterol plaque.