Heart Risk Assessment

Blood pressure

Your heart and blood vessels work harder when you have high blood pressure, and as a result, you can develop many cardiovascular conditions, including arrhythmia, heart attack and stroke. Lowering your blood pressure can reduce your risk of these conditions.

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels. Measurements are represented as a fraction:

• The top number is your systolic blood pressure, the force of blood when your heart beats.
• The bottom number is your diastolic blood pressure, the force of blood between beats.

Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or less.

Cholesterol

Your body needs cholesterol, but too much can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries. Plaque can increase your risk for coronary artery disease and blood clots that can cause heart attacks and strokes. 

You can learn if you have high cholesterol through a test called a lipid panel, sometimes called a lipid profile. It measures your levels of:

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL): Also known as “good cholesterol,” HDL can lower your risk of developing heart disease. You want HDL levels to be high.
• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): Also known as “bad cholesterol,” LDL can lead to plaque formation. You want LDL levels to be low.
• Triglycerides: These are fats your body uses for energy. High triglyceride levels combined with high LDL or low HDL levels can raise your heart disease risk.
• Total cholesterol: This is a combination of your HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.

Other health conditions as well as your lifestyle, age, sex and family history can influence your cholesterol levels, so your provider can explain what your target cholesterol levels should be.

In general, however, a total cholesterol level of 150 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood is considered an optimal goal for most adults.

Blood sugar

Consistently high blood sugar levels can lead to diabetes, and having diabetes raises your risk of heart problems.

Diabetes occurs when your blood sugar (also called blood glucose) levels are too high. Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control cardiovascular functions.

You can learn what your blood sugar levels are from a fasting glucose test or a hemoglobin A1C test.

• A fasting glucose test measures your blood sugar after you have not eaten for a while, usually overnight. A normal result is 99 mg/dL or less.
• A hemoglobin A1C test shows your average blood sugar levels over two to three months. A normal hemoglobin A1C is below 5.7%.

Body mass index (BMI)

Healthcare providers use your BMI to assess your risk for weight-related health issues, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Your BMI is a measurement of your weight in kilograms divided by your height in centimeters.

• 18.5 or lower means you are underweight.
• 18.5 to 24.9 indicates a healthy weight.
• 25 to 29.9 means you are overweight.
• 30 or higher indicates obesity.

You should aim for a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.

Waist circumference

Your waist circumference is another weight-related measurement providers may use to determine whether you are at risk for heart disease. Having a lot of weight around your midsection can mean you have a higher likelihood of developing high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and Type 2 diabetes.

An ideal waist circumference is:

• 35 inches for women who are not pregnant
• 40 inches for men