Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is extremely prevalent in the United States.

The first step of preventing cardiovascular disease is to understand what is putting you at risk. From there, you can make the proper life style choices to reduce your risk.

A: Age - Men 45 years or older & women 55 years or older

B: Blood Pressure - 140+/90+ without medication

C: Cigarette use - within 6 months of quitting

D: Diabetes - fasting blood glucose of 126+

E: Elevated Cholesterol - TCL 200+, LDL 130+, HDL 40 or less

F: Family History - Heart attacks or bypass surgery occurrence before 55 years old for men and before 65 years old for women

G: Gross Inactivity - AKA sedentary lifestyle

O: Obesity - BMI 30+ & body fat of 25%+ for men and 32%+ for women

**If medication is necessary for any of these factors, you are at risk**

Obviously, some of these risk factors cannot be changed. However, lots of these risk factors are avoidable. Blood pressure can be managed by exercise, diabetes can be managed by exercise, diet and medication as well as elevated cholesterol.

HDL (good cholesterol) is improved by cardiovascular exercise

Total Cholesterol & LDL (bad cholesterol) is improved by diet

If HDL level is 60+, you are able to subtract ONE other risk factor from your risk level!