Cholesterol: Journey to a Healthier Lifestyle

CHAPTERS

Count Your Risk Factors

Explore risk factors that can increase your risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk for heart attack or stroke.

You and your healthcare team will discuss all your risk factors. Remember, changes to your lifestyle can lower your risk and lead to better health. 

Cardiovascular risk calculators are simple tools that can help to estimate your future risk for a heart attack or stroke so you can take steps to reduce your risk before symptoms occur.

Certain factors like high cholesterol increase your risk for having a heart attack or stroke.

  • Changeable cardiovascular risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and LDL, low HDL, smoking, and diabetes.
  • Non-changeable cardiovascular risk factors include a family history of cardiovascular disease, age, and gender/sex (male).

Other risk factors to consider:

  • Metabolic Syndrome, if you check three or more of the following:
  • Weight gain with increased inches in the belly
  • High triglycerides
  • Low HDL
  • High blood pressure, or taking medicine for high blood pressure
  • High blood sugar, or taking diabetes medicines
  • Hs-CRP level >2.0 mg/dl
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, psoriasis
  • Some high-risk ethnicities, such as South Asian
  • For women only:
  • Menopause before age 40
  • Pregnancy-related high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia
  • Gestational diabetes

Access the ASCVD Risk Calculator to learn more about your risks.

ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus
ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus
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