Affairs of the HeartA Woman's Heart

Woman's Risk Assessment

The Affairs of the Heart™ Committee hopes to encourage women to take heart disease seriously.

The Committee suggests that you determine your risk for heart disease with the following risk assessments, and then work with your doctor to reduce, control or prevent as many risk factors as possible.

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Do you have a blood relative with heart disease?	YES	NO
Your heredity can put you at risk for heart disease. If your mother/sister developed heart disease before age 65, or your father/brother developed heart disease before age 55, your risk for developing heart disease is increased. Please note: African Americans have a greater risk for developing heart disease.
Are you menopausal or are over 55 years of age?	YES	NO
Estrogen protects a woman's heart. If you are menopausal your estrogen levels have dropped and you are at almost the same risk as the average man for developing heart disease. Be aware of your risks, and work with your doctor to determine if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.
Do you smoke or live with someone who smokes?	YES	NO
Smoking is a serious risk to your heart, and can also increase your risk for stroke. Smokers face a greater risk of developing heart disease than developing cancer.
Have you ever been told you have high blood cholesterol levels, or is your HDL below 45mgm/dl?	YES	NO
Your risk for heart disease rises as blood cholesterol levels rise. When high cholesterol exists with high blood pressure and smoking, the risk increases even more.
Have you ever been told you have high blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm Hg?	YES	NO
High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder, causing it to weaken over time. You can help take control of your blood pressure with lifestyle changes and/or medication.
Are you overweight by 20 pounds or more? Do you get less than 30 minutes of physical activity 3 days per week?	YES	NO
If you are overweight and physically inactive your heart has to work harder. Excess weight can also increase your risk for high blood pressure.
Have you been diagnosed with diabetes?	YES	NO
Research has shown that diabetes can be more harmful to a woman's heart than a man's. If not controlled or treated diabetes can cause hardening of the arteries and damage the heart.

Know your medical history and see your doctor regularly. Although not all risk factors can be controlled, your life style choices can help keep your heart healthy longer.

If you answered "yes" to 3 or more questions, you may be at risk for heart disease. It is strongly recommended that you review the above heart-health risk assessment with your doctor. If you need an internist or cardiologist please call the Columbia University Medical Center Physician Referrals at 1.800.227.2762.

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