Risk Assessment

Each year, more and more Americans have a heart attack. The most ominous fact is that for 20 to 40 percent of these people, that heart attack is their first symptom of heart disease. Unfortunately, one in three don't survive their first heart attack.

The key to heart disease prevention is taking sensible steps to ensure good heart health before a fatal or disabling event occurs. Most major risk factors for heart disease can be controlled through daily decisions you make about nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle.

High cholesterol is one of the most critical risk factors. In addition to high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking are also major contributors to heart disease. On average, each of these doubles your chance of developing heart disease. That means, if you have all three critical risk factors you are eight times more likely to develop heart disease than someone who has none. Obesity and physical inactivity are other factors that can lead to heart disease. Being overweight increases your likelihood of developing high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. Regular exercise, good nutrition, and smoking cessation are key to controlling the risk factors for CHD.

Preventing Heart Disease has been created to help you:

· Understand risk factors for heart disease.
· Identify risk factors you may have.
· Learn how to reduce your risk.
· Lower your overall risk of a heart attack, stroke, or heart-related complications.