Did you know that Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) goes by several names, like Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), and Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)? Despite the different names, they all describe the same serious condition. CAD occurs when fatty deposits, known as atheroma, build up in the coronary arteries. Over time, these deposits can narrow or block the vital arteries that supply blood to the heart and brain, increasing the risk of life-threatening events such as heart attacks or strokes.
Understanding CAD is the first step in protecting yourself from these serious outcomes.
How Do I Calculate My Risks?
This is a simple method patients and clinicians may use to estimate 10-year and lifetime risks for heart attack or stroke. If you are over 40, you can easily find your risk level. Just enter some basic information about your lifestyle, cholesterol and blood pressure throught this link here (https://static.heart.org/riskcalc/app/index.html#!/baseline-risk).
Reducing the Risks
Stopping smoking for just two years can reduce your risks by at least 10%. Lowering your systolic blood pressure to normal can help lower risk by 5-10%. Exercising regularly, eating healthfully, getting your A1C in target range of 6.5-7% if you're diabetic are some basic ways to reduce your risk. If you have high cholesterol, lowering the Total and boosting HDL cholesterols can also significantly reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Talk to your Unified Care team and your doctor about ways to improve your numbers. Read more of our articles about heart health for more information!