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Heart Health Risk Assessment
Are You At Risk For Heart Disease?
Whether or not you are at risk for heart disease depends on a variety of factors. Some, like your age, sex, and family history, are beyond your control. Others, like whether or not you smoke, are completely within your power to change. If you wonder about your personal risk for developing heart disease, take a moment to
check
off the following risk
factors that apply to you.
__ I am a male.
__ I am over age 50.
__ I have an existing heart condition.
__ I have a family history of heart disease
__ I have a family history of high blood pressure.
__ I have high blood pressure.
__ I do not know my blood pressure level.
__ I have diabetes.
__ I have a family history of diabetes.
__ I am more than 10 pounds overweight.
__ I have a family history of high cholesterol levels.
__ I have a high cholesterol level.
__ I do not know my cholesterol level.
__ I consume more than 1-2 alcoholic drinks daily.
__ I eat eggs, red meat, fried and/or fatty foods frequently.
__ I smoke cigarettes.
__ I do not exercise regularly, or exercise less than three times weekly.
__ I have a very stressful job.
__ I rarely have time to relax.
Finding The Results
Heart disease risk is cumulative. That means that the more risk factors you have, the greater your risk for developing heart disease. Each of the above statements reflects a personal risk factor for heart disease. The more statements you've checked off, the greater your risk. Reread your answers. Identify those factors that are within your control. Then, you can begin to reduce your risk by gradually eliminating those behaviors that you can change. Don’t expect change to happen overnight. Start by working on one unhealthy habit at a time, and soon you'll be on your way to a heart-healthier way of life.
Got a question about rehabilitation? Ask an expert! E-mail your question to the address below, and one of our staff members will reply within 24 hours.
rehabsvs@northoaks.org
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