Your Health Choices West Midlands Senior Special | Page 14

We are the Stroke Association

Risk factors
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There is nothing anyone can do to guarantee they won’t
have a heart attack, but there are tests that can be done
to gain an idea of the risk to your heart and its state
of play. There are also a number of risk factors
that could indicate a need to be vigilant and
conscientious about the health of your
heart. These include the following:
Family history of heart disease
You might want to book a heart
check if your family have a history
of cardiovascular disease as you will
be at greater risk. It is considered a
family risk factor if your father or
brother was diagnosed with a heart
problem before 55, or if your mother
or sister was diagnosed before the age
of 65.
High blood pressure
Your heart could be at risk if you suffer
from high blood pressure, which can cause
tears that scar the arteries and make them
more susceptible to plaque that blocks the heart.

High cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your
blood that increases your risk of heart disease and
cardiovascular disease. There are a number of causes
for high cholesterol, including poor diet, smoking,
alcohol and a lack of physical activity. Finding our your
‘bad’(LDL) cholesterol levels can help indicate your risk
factor. It is recommended you have your cholesterol
checked every 5 years if you are between the ages of 40
and 75 and every 1