Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
Knowing your risk for heart disease can help you better manage your health.
If you are at risk, it is imperative that you undergo a cardiovascular risk assessment as soon as possible to help determine your chance of experiencing a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke. An individual’s personal health history including age, family history, weight, cigarette smoking, blood pressure, diet, exercise, and diabetes are some of the most important indicators for cardiac risk.
The number one cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women is heart disease.
What is a Cardiovascular Risk Assessment?
A cardiovascular risk assessment is a group of tests and health factors that have been proven to help determine a person’s chance of suffering a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke.
Cardiac risk factors include: Age, obesity, family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes, diet, and lifestyle. Other risk factors include a history of cancer requiring radiation and certain types of chemotherapy and a history of high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy for women.
Cardiac risk assessment may use the results of various imaging tests which include non-invasive tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG), a metabolic stress test, a cardiac CT, and a cardiac MRI. Invasive tests such as cardiac catherization and arteriography/angiography may also be necessary.
Using A Lipid Profile for Cardiac Risk Assessment
The lipid profile is used for measuring triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL-C (high density lipoprotein or “good” cholesterol), and LDL-C (low density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol). It is used to help determine an individual’s risk of heart disease and to help doctors determine a treatment plan.
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