Take Our Health Quiz

Are you at risk for heart disease?  Over 60% of women believe their biggest health threat is breast cancer but heart disease kills 6 times as many women as breast cancer.  Some risk factors are different for women than for men, and may be milder in women.  Heart attacks strike without warning.  If a women does not realize heart disease is a health threat, she will not make heart healthy changes or respond to symptoms once they occur.

The way you live each day affects your heart.  An unhealthy lifestyle can lead to a heart attack or stroke.  Making lifestyle changes now could save your life.  Review this simple checklist to find out if you are at risk.  Each risk factor that applies is valued at 1 point.  Total up the number of risk factors that apply to you.
 

FAMILY HISTORY

 Your father or brother under the age of 55, or your mother or sister under the age of 65, has had a heart attack, stroke, angioplasty or bypass surgery.

OLDER AGE

 You are over 55 years old.  After age 65, the death rate increases sharply for women. 

SMOKING

 Either you smoke or you are exposed to second hand smoke every day.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

 Your blood pressure is over 135/85 mm Hg or you have been told that you have high blood pressure.  Optimal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg.  Drug therapy is indicated when blood pressure is >140/90 mm Hg, or an even lower blood pressure in the setting of chronic kidney disease or diabetes (> 1390/90 mm Hg).  After age 45, 60% of Caucasian women and 79% of African-American women have high blood pressure.

PHYSICAL INACTIVITY

 You do not exercise for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, like taking a brisk walk, on most days.  For weight control, women need to exercise  with 60-90 minutes of a moderate-intensity activity most days.  70% of American women do not exercise regularly.

DIABETES

 You have been told that you have diabetes or take medicine to help control your blood sugar.  After age 45, diabetes affects many more women than men.  If diabetic, aim to achieve an HbA1c < 7%.

BLOOD CHOLESTEROL LEVELS (LIPIDS)

 Your HDL (high density lipo-protein or "good" cholesterol) is less than 50mg/dL.  LDL goals are dependent upon risk.  The following levels of lipids and lipoproteins in women should be encouraged through lifestyle approaches.  If a woman is at high risk or has hypercholesterolemia, intake of saturated fat should be <7% and cholesterol intake <200 mg/d.  For diabetic women, LDL<100.  For vascular disease and very high risk women, LDL<70.  HDL of 60 mg/dL is considered cardio-protective.  You can raise your HDL by taking in 2-3T of olive oil daily, quitting smoking, getting regular aerobic exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. 

OVERWEIGHT

 You are 20 pounds or more overweight.  More than 1/3 of American women are more than 20 pounds overweight.  Ask your healthcare professional if your Body Mass Index (BMI) places you at risk.

METABOLIC SYNDROME

Having at least three of a cluster of symptoms that are listed below places you at risk:

  • High blood sugar > 100mg/dL after fasting
  • High triglycerides - at least 150 mg/dL
  • Low HDL (<50 mg/dL in women)
  • Blood pressure of 130/85 or higher
  • Waist >35 inches (waist measurement of 35 inches or more or waist-to-ip ratio greater than .80 is a predictor of high triglycerides and low HDL levels)

PREMATURE MENOPAUSE

 Either natural or through surgery, early menopause - before the age of 40 - is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

 When combined with regular exposure to cigarette smoke, taking birth control pills greatly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, especially after age 35.

STRESS

 You have a high demand/low control job with sustained high levels of stress.  Stress is a normal part of life.  How you cope with stress can affect your heart.

UNHEALTHY DIET

A healthy diet consists of:

  • eating fruits, vegetables and whole-grain high-fiber foods (aim for 5 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of whole fruit daily);
  • eating fish, especially oily fish, at least twice a week.  Pregnant and lactating women should avoid eating fish because of potentially high methylmercury levels.  Check EPA and USFDA websites for updates and advisories.
  • limiting saturated fat to <10% of energy, and if possible to <7%, cholesterol to <300 mg/dL;
  • limiting alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink per day;
  • limiting sodium intake to <2.3 g/d (approximately 1 tsp salt);
  • avoiding all trans-fatty acids, listed as "hydrogenerated oil" in the ingredients list.

What is your total number of points?  If you have 2 or more points, consult with your healthcare practitioner and ask for a complete risk assessment.  Find out what you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease.

 

for information about the lecture on February 23, 2012, "Women and Heart Disease" featuring cardiologist, Revati Ghatnekar, M.D.