| Traditional risk factors for coronary artery | | | | - Once you've put together this basic information, |
| disease are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, | | | | you can determine which risk category you are in. |
| diabetes, and smoking. Despite attempts to | | | | You are in the low risk category if: |
| "prove" that other, "newer" risk factors are | | | | - You have no family history of early-onset |
| better indicators of cardiac risk, studies have | | | | cardiovascular disease |
| shown that almost all people who die from | | | | - You are not overweight |
| coronary artery disease have at least one of the | | | | - You have no evidence of diabetes |
| "traditional 4." | | | | - Your blood pressure is less than 120/80 |
| Unfortunately, although multiple organizations such | | | | - Your triglycerides are less than 150mg/dL, your |
| as the American Heart Association, the National | | | | total cholesterol is less than 180mg/dL, and your - |
| Institutes for Health, the Preventive | | | | HDL cholesterol is greater than 60mg/dL |
| Cardiovascular Nurses Association, and even the | | | | - You do not smoke |
| American Medical Association, to name just a | | | | - This comprises about 35% of adults. |
| few, have disseminated volumes of information | | | | By the way, if you are an ex-smoker, the |
| on the traditional 4 indicators of cardiovascular | | | | effects of smoking on the cardiovascular system |
| disease, many doctors are still not making cardiac | | | | are decreased immediately on cessation of |
| risk a part of their standard of practice. By the | | | | smoking and even reversed over time until your |
| same token, the majority of us have chosen to | | | | risk is equivalent to someone who never smoked! |
| disregard the warnings as well, believing ourselves | | | | You are in the high risk category if: |
| immune to the effects of the traditional 4 on our | | | | - You have known coronary artery disease |
| lives until it's too late. For many people, the first | | | | - You have type 2 diabetes |
| sign of heart disease is sudden death. | | | | - You are over age 65 and have multiple risk |
| There are three categories of risk as determined | | | | factors |
| by some simple and inexpensive screening | | | | - This comprises about 25% of adults. |
| methods: low, intermediate and high. So how do | | | | The remainder of people (about 40%) don't quite |
| you know how to measure your risk, which | | | | fit into either category, and are therefore |
| category you're in, and what you can do about it? | | | | considered at intermediate risk for developing |
| The most important thing to know is that you | | | | coronary artery or other vascular disease. |
| don't need to have any medical training to assess | | | | People in the low category should be encouraged |
| your chance of developing cardiovascular disease, | | | | to maintain a healthy lifestyle and get regular |
| but you will need some information only your | | | | checkups. Those in the high category require |
| doctor can provide: | | | | immediate medical intervention to reduce the risk |
| Your family history: do you have a parent or | | | | of heart attack and sudden death. This may |
| sibling with heart disease of any of the following | | | | include aspirin, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, and |
| risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, | | | | or statins. |
| or diabetes under the age of 45 for men and 55 | | | | Anyone in the intermediate category should have |
| for women. | | | | further evaluation to determine whether or not |
| - Any evidence of diabetes | | | | they already have evidence of coronary vascular |
| - Your blood pressure | | | | disease. Each risk factor needs to be addressed. |
| - Your triglyceride and cholesterol levels; total and | | | | Family history cannot be changed, but all the |
| HDL | | | | other indicators can be modified. |
| - Whether or not you smoke | | | | |