• 50% of men and 64% of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms
  (FHS, NHLBI)
• 25% of males and females have some form of CVD
  (AHA Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics)
• The American Heart Association recommends the assessment of cardiovascular risk as early as age 20
  (AHA Guidelines for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: 2002 Update)

The American Heart Association recommends that all adults 40 years of age and older know their cardiovascular disease risk.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help assess your risk

• Has anyone in my family had heart disease? - Family history is defined as mother, father, brother, sister, or grandparent.
• Do I have a high blood pressure? Am I controlling my blood pressure with medication?
• Do I have high total cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol (the so-called "bad" cholesterol)?
• Am I overweight?
• Do I have diabetes?
• Do I smoke?
• Do I lead a sedentary lifestyle (i.e., don't exercise)?
• Am I age 50 or older?

If you answered "yes" to two or more of the above questions, you could be at moderate or high risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke within the next ten years. You can discuss the results at your next doctor's visit.

Your doctor can evaluate your overall risk and discuss whether you should be taking aspirin and other steps to reduce your cardiovascular risk.