Know Your Risks for Heart Disease|
ALLEN, Texas — Public awareness of the risks for heart disease has increased exponentially in recent years. Physicians today have a better understanding of the risks for heart disease and how to take steps to reduce the risks for heart disease. There are two types of risk factors: controllable and uncontrollable.
According to the American Heart Association and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, controllable risk factors include:
- Smoking, which increases the risk for heart disease at a minimum of two times more than that of a nonsmoker
- Total cholesterol of more than 200 mg/dL
- Inactive lifestyle: physical activity can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and help individuals maintain a healthy weight which all work together to reduce the risk of heart disease
- Other risk factors which either can be treated or modified are:
Texas Health Resources has a free online tool that can help determine risk factors for heart disease. In less than 10 minutes, individuals can get a risk profile that they can take to their physician for further information. To take the risk assessment, visit YourHeartAge.com.
“Talk to you doctor if you have any of these risk factors or are concerned about certain risk factors for heart disease,” said Dr. Clyde Sullivan, a cardiologist on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen. “It is important to maintain an honest dialogue and profile of your heart health with your doctor.”
While we can lower or risk of heart disease by living a healthy lifestyle, the American Heart Association also has identified uncontrollable risk factors of:
- Age: According to the AHA, people 65 and older have a significantly higher chance of developing heart disease. Women age 55 and older are also at a higher risk.
- Family history: The AHA states that those who have parents with heart disease also have a higher risk than those who do not have a family history.
For more information about heart disease, visit TexasHealth.org/Heart.
About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen is a 73-bed acute-care hospital serving the northern Collin County area since 2000. The hospital’s services include women’s services, a Level II neonatal intensive care unit, orthopedics, pediatrics, wound care and sleep medicine. Texas Health Allen, an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, has more than 500 physicians on its medical staff practicing in more than 25 specialties. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit TexasHealth.org/Allen.
About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 24 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, a large physician group, outpatient facilities, and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education. For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.
Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.