Mutch Women's Center for Health Enrichment

Self Assessment

Finding Out Your Own Risk

The first step toward heart health is becoming aware of your own personal risk for heart disease. Some risks, such as smoking cigarettes, are obvious: Every woman knows whether or not she smokes. But other risk factors, such as high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol, generally don't have obvious signs or symptoms. Check out these Heart Health Self-Assessments to help you determine your risks. Always consult your physician to discuss your potential heart health risks and treatment plans.

What's Your Risk?

  Yes No Don't Know
Do You Smoke?      
Is your blood pressure 140/90 mmHg or higher, OR have you been told by your doctor that your blood pressure is too high?      
Has your doctor told you that your LDL ("bad") cholesterol is too high, OR that your total cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL or higher, OR that your HDL ("good") cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL?      
Has your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55, OR has your mother or sister had one before age 65?      
Do you have diabetes OR a fasting blood sugar of 126 mg/dL or higher, OR do you need medicine to control your blood sugar? Are you over 55 years old?      
Do you have a body mass index (BMI) score of 25 or more? (To find out, go to http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/      
Do you get less than a total of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days? Has a doctor told you that you have angina (chest pains), OR have you had a heart attack?      

If you checked any of the "yes" boxes, you're at an increased risk of having a heart attack. If you checked "don't know" for any questions, ask your doctor for help in answering them. Read on to learn what you can do to lower your risk.

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Risk Assessment Tool for Estimating Your 10-year Risk of Having a Heart Attack

Go to the following website to take the "Risk Assessment Tool for Estimating Your 10-year Risk of Having a Heart Attack" http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp?usertype=pub