What’s Your Risk of CVD?
One of the most significant potential health threats women face as we get older is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is a broad term used to describe a variety of conditions that affect the function of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular events, such as stroke and heart attack, can be lifealtering, so it’s important to know your risk and to take an active role in reducing it.
I encourage all of my patients to be well aware of their risks. Knowing if you have a family history of CVD, particularly the age of onset, is key: The younger your family members were when they developed CVD or had a stroke or heart attack, the higher the risk that the same will happen for you. Be sure to alert your doctor if you have a family history of CVD.
For women, diabetes and metabolic syndrome—a cluster of factors including abnormal lipid and blood glucose levels, high blood pressure, and large waist circumference—are of special concern. For both men and women, smoking, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle increase CVD risk.
Another key to understanding your CVD risk is knowing your numbers. Your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels are very important, as is hemoglobin A1C (a measure of blood glucose). When you have blood work done, schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor so he or she can review your test results with you and explain what they mean.
Be proactive in terms of asking for imaging or screening studies, especially if your CVD risk is high. Stress testing and cardiovascular imaging, such as a computed tomography (CT) angiogram or a coronary artery calcium scan, can give you and your doctor some information about the amount of plaque formation in your coronary arteries, which can help guide your decisions about the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Finally, play an active role and work with your health-care team in deciding what you can do to reduce your risk. And regardless of your CVD risk, strive to increase or maintain your exercise schedule (most days of the week, at least 30 minutes a day) and optimize your weight: Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight will help keep your heart and blood vessels functioning at their best, as well as reducing the risk for many other chronic diseases.
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