What Does Your Heart Risk Assessment Really Mean?

Getting a heart risk assessment is a substantial step in preventing heart disease. Sometimes, taking the first step can be the most challenging step of all. However, now that you have identified your level of heart risk, it is time to apply the risk assessment to control your own heart health.

If you haven’t taken an online heart risk assessment yet, it is easy and simple, so it is in your best interests to do it now. However, if you already have your assessment results, you may be wondering what do you do with this newfound information. The online profile has assessed your risk. What you do next will likely depend on what your risk is—or your personal  “heart age.”

Don’t let the results frighten you too much, though. Almost everyone has some degree of risk for cardiovascular disease. However, you can control certain risk factors such as diet and exercise.  Factors which are out of your control, such as family history, are not as easy to manage.

What Does Your Heart Risk Assessment Really Mean?

Getting a heart risk assessment is a substantial step in preventing heart disease. Sometimes, taking the first step can be the most challenging step of all. However, now that you have identified your level of heart risk, it is time to apply the risk assessment to control your own heart health.

If you haven’t taken an online heart risk assessment yet, it is easy and simple, so it is in your best interests to do it now. However, if you already have your assessment results, you may be wondering what do you do with this newfound information. The online profile has assessed your risk. What you do next will likely depend on what your risk is—or your personal  “heart age.”

Don’t let the results frighten you too much, though. Almost everyone has some degree of risk for cardiovascular disease. However, you can control certain risk factors such as diet and exercise.  Factors which are out of your control, such as family history, are not as easy to manage.

Heart Risk Assessment: Next Steps

Here are some recommendations about what to do based on the results you received from your heart risk assessment.

Low risk

If you are at low risk, your heart age is the same, or less than, your actual age.

If you are in the low-risk category, you are likely doing many things right. There’s no need to fix what isn’t broken. However, you also need to note that, as your age increases, your heart disease risk increases as well. Whatever your healthy habits are—keep them up. And remember to incorporate more heart-healthy habits as you become older.

Moderate risk

If your heart age is higher than your actual age, you are at moderate risk. Several factors can land you in the moderate risk category. Perhaps it is your weight or sedentary lifestyle. Or, maybe you smoke and are having a challenging time trying to quit.

These are modifiable risk factors, as you have the power to change them. Making lifestyle adjustments can significantly reduce your moderate heart disease risk. It is essential to get the help you need when you attempt to make any necessary changes.

High risk 

If your heart age is higher than your actual age, and you have several associated risk factors as well, you may be in the high-risk category. You may have a family history of heart disease. Or, maybe you have diabetes, or another condition can put you at high risk. You can’t easily control your genetics, but knowing your family history enables you and your heart care professional to come up with a plan to manage it. You can also work with your provider to control your diabetes or other condition which is putting you at high risk.

Get Help From a Heart Health Professional

No matter which category you fall in, there are steps you can take to improve your heart health. If you are in the low-risk group, you may be able to take many of those steps on your own. For those in the moderate and high-risk categories, teaming up with a heart health professional to develop a comprehensive plan can make much of the difference in the long-term outcome. Schedule your heart health consultation today.