Risk factors for heart disease

Risk factors for heart disease basically include 8 factors: cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, heredity, body mass index, gender, stress, physical activity.

The following paper & pencil test should help you calculate heart disease risk.
Note: the following heart disease risk assessment is meant to alert you to possible problems. Final diagnosis & intervention must be done by qualified medical person.

Total up scores on each factor to give you a reasonable estimate of your level of risk factors heart disease.

Figure 1: Self test 4 risk factors 4 heart disease

<160 or <3 total cholesterol to HDL ratio = +2

160-200 or 3-4 = +1

200-240 or 4-5 = -1

240-280 or 5-6 = -2

>280 or >6 = -4

2) Blood pressure: choose highest# for either value

<110 or 60-80 = +1

110-120 or 60-80 = 0

120-150 or 80-90 = -1

150-170 or 90-100 = -2

170 >100 = -4

3) Smoking

Never = +1

Quit = 0

Smoke cigar or pipe or close family member smokes = -1

One pack of cigarettes daily = -3

Two or more packs daily = -5

4) Heredity

No family history of heart disease = +2

One close relativge over 60 w/ heart disease = 0

Two close relatives over 60 w/ heart disease = -1

One close relative under 60 with heart disease = -2

Two or more close relatives under 60 with heart disease = -4

5) Body mass index (BMI) (Link to)

19-25 = +2

<19 = 0

26-30 = -1

31-40 = -3

>40 = -5

*If waist <40 in (102 cm) subtract one less (ex. -2 or -4)

6) Gender

Female, <55 yrs old = 0

Female, >55 yrs old = -1

Male = -1

Stocky male = -2

Bald, stocky male = -2

7) Stress

Calm & happy = +3

Ambitious but calm = 0

Occasionally hard-driving, time conscious = 0

Hard driving, time conscious, competitive(Type A) = -1

Type A w/ repressed hostility = -3

8) Physical activity

Hi intensity, 60 mins, most days = +3

Moderate, 30 mins, most days = +2

Moderate, 20-30 mins, 3-5x week = +1

Light, 10-20 mins, 1-2x week = -1

Little or none = -3

Your heart disease risk assessment score

Add up your numbers.

Your total score could range from +12 (ideal) to -32 (highest risk).

See below for your designation.
LOWEST RISK: +12 to +7

LOW RISK: +6 to +1

LOW-MEDIUM RISK: 0 to -5

MEDIUM RISK: -6 to -13

HIGH-MEDIUM RISK: -14 to -19

HIGH RISK: -20 to -25

HIGHEST RISK: -26 to -32

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web http://www.healthyexerciseworld.com

Click 2 go from risk factors 4 heart disease 2 home