How's Your Heart?
Get answers to your cholesterol questions, and find out which factors impact your risk for heart attack or stroke by taking this free assessment. You’ll receive personalized recommendations about:
* Your risk for heart disease
* Strategies to manage your cholesterol
* What causes high cholesterol?
* Foods that help improve cholesterol levels
Complete the quick quiz today and help keep your heart beating strong.
This is a great wake up call for you to start changing some of your bad habits and improve your cholesterol values.
Suppose your cholesterol level is 214 and LDL of 140. Following our advice each day and using this test as a guideline, plus exercise, you’ll be able to lower your cholesterol to 170 and LDL to 104.
Cholesterol – Questionnaire
General Health
1. What is your height without shoes?
Feet 5 Inches 9
2. What is your weight?
Pounds:198
3. How much do you exercise each week?
no exercise
1 - 2 hours per week
3 - 4 hours per week
5 - 7 hours per week
more than 7 hours per week
Cholesterol
4. Have you had your cholesterol checked in the past five years?
Yes
No
Persons over the age of 35 are advised to have their cholesterol and lipid values checked at least once every five years.
5. Have you had an hs-CRP test?
Yes
No
Don't Know
The high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) test, along with cholesterol testing, may be a strong predictor for the risk of future heart attack. Talk to your doctor about these tests during your next visit.
Cholesterol-lowering Products
6. Are you currently using any of the following to lower your cholesterol
(medication, supplement, food)? (Check all that apply.)
Prescription medication
Supplements, like niacin or garlic
Food, such as oatmeal, soy or garlic; or spread, such as Benecol®
or Take Control®
None of the above
Blood Pressure
7. What is your average blood pressure (systolic/diastolic) in mmHg? Select a value
from the list. If you are uncertain, select Not Sure.
systolic / diastolic /
High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease. Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, and/or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher. Taking blood pressure medications regularly can effectively reduce risk for heart disease.
8. Are you currently taking medication to control your blood pressure?
Yes
No
High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease. Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, and/or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher.
Heart Disease
9. Have you ever been diagnosed with heart disease?
Yes
No
10. Have you ever had a stroke, heart attack, bypass surgery, or angioplasty?
Yes
No
Family History
11. Has your father, a brother or a son had heart disease before reaching 55 years of age?
Yes
No
Don't Know
12. Has your mother, a sister or a daughter had heart disease before reaching 65 years of age?
Yes
No
Don't Know
Indicators of heart disease include heart attack, sudden death, coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or angioplasty (PTCA) procedures. A history of heart disease in a first-degree relative (a parent, sibling or child) raises an individual's personal risk of heart disease.
13. Has any member of your immediate family (parents, siblings, children) been diagnosed with very high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) or been started on medications for lowering cholesterol?
Yes
No
Don't Know
Genetics is powerful determinant of each individual's cholesterol levels. An individual who has first-degree family members with elevated cholesterol is more likely to have high cholesterol compared with individuals who have no relatives with elevated lipid levels.
Diabetes
14. Have you been diagnosed with diabetes?
Yes
No
Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for heart disease. Fortunately, if you are a diabetic, your disease can be effectively controlled and your risks for heart disease can be lowered by behavioral changes and medications.
Smoking
15. Have you ever smoked cigarettes every day for 3 or more months?
Yes
No
Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for heart disease. Fortunately, a smoker's risk of heart disease will decrease rapidly after successfully quitting.
Cholesterol – Recommendations
Cholesterol
Screening for cholesterol and blood lipids is not recommended for men who are under the age of 35. Once men reach the age of 35, cholesterol screening (including HDL screening) is recommended every five years. Individuals with high cholesterol levels may receive a more comprehensive lipid analysis and will monitor their cholesterol and lipids more frequently as prescribed by their primary healthcare provider.
Heart Disease Risk Factors
Your Risk
Your responses indicate that you have fewer than two heart disease risk factors. Congratulations! Continue your current diet and activity level.
Risk Factors
In addition to high cholesterol levels, there are other factors that can put you at higher risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Some of these risk factors are modifiable; others are not. Click the risk factors below to learn more about your risks for CHD.
Modifiable Risk Factors
Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. Since you have never smoked, you have significantly reduced your risk of heart disease. Congratulations!
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
You indicated that you have high blood pressure or that you are taking medication to control your blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a potent risk factor for heart disease. Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg, or both. The good news is that hypertension is treatable. The first step is awareness. There are self-care approaches to bring blood pressure under control including dietary modification and physical activity, and there are very effective medications.
Obesity
Your weight and height have been used to compute your body mass index (BMI). Your BMI is 32.6, which is higher than recommended. Being overweight (BMI greater than 27) is a well-documented risk factor for heart disease. Consult your doctor to obtain nutritional guidelines to help you reduce and maintain your weight.
You indicated that you do not exercise. Regular physical activity of moderate intensity (such as walking or running for 30 minutes a day 3 times per week) can reduce your cholesterol level and greatly reduce your risk of heart disease. You should increase your physical activity right away. Remember to start gradually, and talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program.
Diabetes
You indicated that you do not have diabetes. This lowers your risk of heart disease.
Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
Age and Gender
Men over the age of 45 are considered to be at increased risk of heart disease. Being younger than 45 lowers your risk.
Heart disease in first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) may be a marker for higher heart attack risk. Specifically, heart disease in a father, brother, or son before the age of 55 elevates risk. Similarly, heart disease in a mother, sister, or daughter before the age of 65 increases risk. Because you do not know whether a first-degree relative of yours has had heart disease, you may or may not be at higher risk of having heart disease yourself. Alert your health-care practitioner to your unknown medical history. He or she may want to monitor your heart health more closely.
Family History of Very High Cholesterol
High cholesterol, diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia or history of using cholesterol lowering drugs in first-degree relatives may be a marker for higher heart attack risk. Since you do not have first-degree relatives who have this condition, your risk of heart disease is lower.
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