Thursday, December 1, 2011

Are You At Risk For Heart Attack or Stroke?

Heart attacks and strokes kill more people than all cancers and auto accidents combined. According to the American heart Association, most sudden heart attacks and strokes occur in people with normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels. 

Eating right, exercising, watching your weight, controlling your cholesterol are important, but more can be done to reduce the risk for a debilitating or deadly heart attack or stroke. 

It is important to have an annual physical every year to check the following
  • Blood pressure
  • Cholesterol 
  • Glucose
If you are in any of the following categories apply to you, consider additional screening
  • All males 45 or older (regardless of health)
  • All females 55 or older (regardless of health)
  • Anyone with one or more of the following risk factors for cvd:
    • Family History of Heart Attacks or Strokes 
    • Diabetes 
    • Periodontitis (Gum Disease) 
    • High Blood Pressure
    • Overweight  
    • Sedentary Lifestyle  
    • Poor Diet  
    • Smoker 
    • High Stress 
    • Cholesterol Problems
Some of the screenings that identify the earliest signs of cardiovascular disease are Carotid IMT screening. This is a non-invasive procedure that used ultrasound technology to measure the thickness of the vascular lining. 
To find out more about the screening, talk to your doctor. If you are in the US, check out Life Line Screening if you are interested in learning more about health screening. 

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