Want to live longer? The biggest cause of mortality in the US is still heart disease. Heart attacks are usually caused by atherosclerosis, which is when the arteries in your body get clogged. This is just like when your drains are clogged in your house- fluid can’t move well or gets blocked. In your body, every organ system needs blood flow. Blood is what brings oxygen and nutrients to your body. As this blood flow restricts, it can cause strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, impotence, and muscle cramping.
What causes atherosclerosis? Genetics is always a key, as it predisposes people to some of the issues below. Activity and what you eat are key as well. But the underlying major causes haven’t changed much, and you see that in the calculators. When I was in medical school, they focused on the four big causes:
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Cholesterol
So what is YOUR risk?
Particularly if you have any issues with the above or have a parent who had heart disease or stroke (in your father age 55 or younger or mother age 65 or younger), you are at risk. Do not fret! There are things you can do. At Biohackr Health, we are all about prevention.
- TEST. Look at your in depth cholesterol panel (beyond LDL/HDL to include Lipoprotein a, Apoprotein B). Insulin panel. HbA1c.
- Do a continuous glucose monitor
- Do a cardiac calcium scan. This scan looks for calcification in your heart arteries, which is an indicator of heart disease. In one study, 25% of low risk asymptomatic patients had a score above zero STUDY.
- Hormone replacement
- Increase activity and build muscle.
- Control your weight with GLP1s.
When I wanted to list the cardiac risk calculators, they varied slightly. I have included a few if you want to see them. You will see the same themes repeated over and over. There is a reason for that. Smoking is bad. Untreated high blood pressure is bad. High LDL cholesterol is bad. Being overweight is bad.
Heart health is important, not only for the heart, but disease in the heart is an indicator for your arterial health throughout the body.
CARDIAC RISK CALCULATORS:
American Heart Association CALCULATOR
American College of Cardiology CALCULATORÂ
Mayo Clinic CALCULATOR