Heart attack or brain attack (stroke): Are you at risk?

Heart attack (myocardial infarction) happens when an artery that feeds your heart muscle becomes blocked with plaque (fatty deposits) or by a clot. When the blood cannot flow to the heart, damage or death to the heart muscle may occur.

Brain attack (stroke) happens when blood and oxygen flow to the brain is stopped or interrupted due to a ruptured or blocked blood vessel. This can cause damage to the brain.

Reducing your risks
You can reduce your risk of heart attack and brain attack (stroke) by becoming aware of your risk factors. These personal characteristics and habits increase your chances of developing cardiovascular diseases.

The sooner you control your risk factors, the better off you will be. Your doctor can help you learn what your risk factors are and how you can control them. This may mean seeing your doctor more often than you do now.

If you checked two or more boxes, see your doctor for a complete risk assessment.
Risks you can control
You can control many of these risk factors by simply making a few changes in your everyday habits.

High blood pressure: Your blood pressure is checked with two numbers. The top number (systolic) shows the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic) shows the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests.

You have high blood pressure if you usually have a top number of more than 140 and a bottom number of more than 90. High blood pressure puts stress on your blood vessel walls. This can lead to clots or bleeding.

Check your blood pressure at least once a year. Have it checked more often if you have a family history of heart disease or high blood pressure.

Smoking: Tobacco use damages your blood vessel walls, speeds up clogging of your arteries, raises your blood pressure and makes your heart work harder. If you smoke, stop. After five years, your stroke risk is the same as someone who has never smoked. Your doctor can give you information about quitting smoking.

What are your risk factors?
Select all of the statements that apply to you.

You are a man older than age 45.

You are a woman older than 35 or you have passed menopause naturally or through surgery

You have a close blood relative who had a heart attack or stroke before age 65.

You smoke, or live or work with people who smoke every day.

Your total cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL or higher.

Your HDL (“good”) cholesterol level is less than 40 mg/dL for men and less than 50 mg/dL for women.

You don’t know your total cholesterol or HDL levels.

Your blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or higher, or you have been told that your blood pressure is too high.

You get less than a total of 30 minutes of vigorous exercise (such as brisk walking, running, swimming or cycling) at least three days each week.

You are 20 pounds or more overweight.

You have diabetes or take medicine to control your blood sugar.

You have coronary artery disease or have had a heart attack.

A doctor said you have carotid artery disease or have had a stroke

You have an abnormal heartbeat.

If you checked two or more boxes, see your doctor for a complete risk assessment.

Heart disease: If you have atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), the upper right chamber of your heart beats quickly and out of rhythm. Blood pools in your heart and often forms clots. These clots travel to your brain through your bloodstream.

Carotid artery disease: Your carotid arteries carry blood to your brain. When plaque (a fatty substance) builds up in your neck arteries, you are at risk for stroke.

High cholesterol: When plaque (a fatty substance) builds up in your artery walls, blood cannot travel to your heart. When too much LDL builds up on your artery walls, plaque forms and blocks blood flow in your vessels leading top your heart, legs and brain. This can cause heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and strokes.

HDL helps to get rid of extra cholesterol from your blood and tissue. This may prevent or reverse blood vessel problems by taking the cholesterol from the plaque. Learn more about cholesterol...

Alcohol abuse: Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. Assess your alcohol use...

Extra weight: Carrying extra weight strains your circulatory system. Extra weight also makes you more likely to have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. Learn about losing weight...

Risks you cannot control
Age: Your chance of heart attack or stroke increases with age (usually older than age 65).

Gender: Men have more strokes and heart attacks than women do. However, the chances of heart attack are greater for women who are past menopause.

Family history: Your chance of heart attack or stroke increases if a close blood relative has had a heart attack or stroke.

Prior heart attack or stroke: If you have had a heart attack or stroke, you have a higher risk of having another one. Someone who has had a heart attack has a greater chance of having a stroke, too.

Diabetes: Diabetes increases the chance of heart attack and stroke in both men and women.

Race: In the United States, African Americans have a higher rate of high blood pressure and stroke.

Heart attack or brain attack (stroke): Are you at risk?

Reducing your risks

Risks you can control

What are your risk factors?

Risks you cannot control