Keep Your Heart Healthy

Do you know your blood pressure?  In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What better time than February, American Heart Month, to take control of your heart health? Determine if you're at risk for heart disease.

Answer the following questions and tally your points in this heart disease risk quiz:

• Below 120/80 (+0)
• Between 120/80 and 14/90 (+1)
• Above 140/90 (+3)
• Don't know (+1)

What is your cholesterol?

• HDL above 50, LDL below 130, triglycerides less than 150 (+0)
• Any of the following: HDL below 50, LDL above 130, triglycerides above 150 (+2)
• Don't know (+1)

How often do you eat fried foods?

• Once a month (+1)
• Several times a month (+2)
• Never (+0)

Does anyone in your family have heart disease?

• Yes, my mother did before age 65 or my father before age 55 (+2)
• No (+0)
• Don't know (+1)

On a typical weekend night, you:

• Have one glass of alcohol (+1)
• Have more than one glass of alcohol (+2)
• Don't drink alcohol (+0)

How many cigarettes have you smoked this week?

• None (+0)
• A few (+3)
• Half a pack or more a day (+8)

How many colors were in your last meal?

• 1 - ex: chicken and rice (+2)
• 2-4 - ex: some vegetables (+1)
• 4 or more - ex: salad and assorted vegetables (+0)

How do you feel after climbing three flights of stairs?

• Fine or even energized (+0)
• Winded (+1)
• I hardly ever climb stairs (+2)

What is your body mass index (BMI)?

• 18.5 - 24.9 (+0)
• 25 - 29.9 (+1)
• 30 ore above (+2)

Results:

0-2: You are on the right track to preventing heart disease. Exercise, eating right and not smoking can prevent about 80 percent of heart disease.

3-7: Even a few harmful habits can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Simply knowing your risk factors is important, especially if you need to reduce your cholesterol or blood pressure.

8 or higher: Get to the doctor. Make the commitment to one healthy behavior change, such as quitting smoking or exercising.

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