The following test gives a broad measure of heart-disease risk.. The text is excerpted from Health Risks by Dr. Elliot Howard, a New York City internist and cardiologist. It is based largely on statistics from government-sponsored studies and censuses, plus Howard's work on individual risk factors. It should be noted that the results provide the average risk for the average individual who gives the same answer. Yet it is possible to score in the very high risk group and live a long life.
Answer each statement.
Personal
Your sex and age is:
+0 Woman younger than 55
+1 Man younger than 55
+2 Woman 55 or older
+3 Man 55 to 65
+4 Man 65 or older
Among your close blood relatives, there have been heart attacks:
+0 In no parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle before the age of 60
+1 In one or more parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles after age of 60
+2 In one parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle before age 60
+3 In two of the above relatives before age 60
+4 In more than two of the above relatives before age 60
Among your close blood relatives, the following medical conditions existed:
+0 No serious high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol
+1 Serious high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol in only one close relative
+2 Serious high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol in two close relatives
+3 Serious high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol in more than two relatives
Cholesterol
Your serum cholesterol level is:
+0 190 or below
+2 191 to 230
+6 231 to 289
+12 290 to 319
+16 Over 320
Your HDL cholesterol is:
-2 Over 60
+0 45 to 60
+2 35 to 44
+6 29 to 34
+12 23 to 28
+16 Below 23
Smoking
You smoke now or have in the past:
+0 Never smoked, or quit more than 5 years ago
+1 Quit 2 to 4 years ago
+3 Quit about 1 year ago
+6 Quit during the past year
You smoke now:
+9 1/2 to 1 pack a day
+12 1 to 2 packs a day
+15 More than 2 packs a day
The quality of the air you breathe is:
+0 Unpolluted by smoke, exhaust or industry at home and work
+2 Live or work with smokers in unpolluted area
+4 Live and work with smokers in unpolluted area
+6 Live or work with smokers and live or work in air-polluted area
+8 Live and work with smokers and live and work in air-polluted area
Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure is:
+0 120/75 or below
+2 120/75 to 140/85
+6 140/85 to 150/90
+8 150/90 to 175/100
+10 175/100 to 190/110
+12 190/110 or over
Exercise
Your exercise habits are:
+0 Exercise vigorously 4 or 5 times a week
+2 Exercise moderately 4 or 5 times a week
+4 Exercise only on weekends
+6 Exercise occasionally
+8 Little or no exercise
Weight
Your weight history is:
+0 Always at or near ideal weight
+1 Now 10 percent overweight
+2 Now 20 percent overweight
+3 Now 30 percent or more overweight
+4 Now 20 percent or more overweight and have been since before age 30
Stress
You feel over stressed:
+0 Rarely at work or at home
+3 Somewhat at home but not at work
+5 Somewhat at work but not at home
+7 Somewhat at work and home
+9 Usually, at work or home
+12 Usually, at work and at home
Diabetes
Your diabetic history is:
+0 Blood sugar always normal
+2 Blood glucose slightly high (pre-diabetic) or slightly low (hypoglycemic)
+4 Diabetic beginning after age 40 requiring strict dietary or insulin control
+5 Diabetic beginning before age 30 requiring strict dietary or insulin control
Alcohol
You drink alcoholic beverages:
+0 Never or only socially, about once or twice a month, or only 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor about 5 times a week
+2 Two to three 5 ounce servings of wine or 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor about 5 times a week
+4 More than three 1.5 ounces of hard liquor or more than three 5 ounce servings of wine or 12 ounce servings of beer almost daily
Interpreting Your Score
Add all scores together and check below:
0 to 20: Low risk. Excellent family history and lifestyle habits.
21 to 50: Moderate risk. Family history or lifestyle habits put you at some risk. You might lower your risks and minimize your genetic predisposition if you change your poor habits.
51 to 74: High risk. Habits and family history indicate high risk of heart disease. Change your habits now.
Above 75: Very high risk. Family history and a lifetime of poor habits put you at very high risk of heart disease. Eliminate as many of the risk factors as you can.
Heart disease is the number one killer for men & women. If you scored poorly on this questionnaire please make an appointment to go over what you can do to lower your risk.
