Understanding Your Risk For Heart Disease
By taking the Heart Risk Test, you’re in a better position to understanding your risk for heart disease.
Your Heart Risk Test Results
You’ve got your heart risk score! Now what? Here are a few tips to help you know what to do with your new knowledge:-
If Your Risk Was Low or BorderlineBased on how you answered the assessment, your score shows you’re at lower risk for heart disease! While that’s something to celebrate, it’s important to understand that your risk can change over time. Stay on the right track by monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol, exercising, limiting alcoholic beverages, and eating a low-sodium diet. Lifestyle changes are your first line of defense when it comes to lowering your risk for heart disease. We recommend you share your risk assessment results with your Primary Care doctor at your next appointment.
Need a doctor? Call us at 1-855-233-0888 or fill out the form and we'll contact you with some referral options. -
If Your Risk Was Intermediate
Based on how you answered the assessment, your score shows you’re at an intermediate risk for heart disease. We recommend you schedule an appointment to review your risk assessment results with your Primary Care physician.
If you do not have a Primary Care doctor, please call 1-855-233-0888 or fill out the form and we’ll contact you with several physician referrals. Because your risk is intermediate, your Primary Care doctor may recommend you also see a cardiologist.
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If Your Risk Was High
Based on how you answered the assessment, your score shows you’re at high risk for heart disease. We recommend you schedule an appointment to review your risk assessment results with your Primary Care physician.
If you do not have a Primary Care doctor, please call 1-855-233-0888 or fill out the form and we’ll contact you with several physician referrals. Because your risk is high, your Primary Care physician may recommend you also see a cardiologist.
A Cardiologist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of heart disease.
Helping You Get Heart-Healthy
At BayCare, we want to help you live a heart healthy lifestyle. Here are some great resources to learn more about heart and how to keep it healthy and some items to watch out for:
Living a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
Living a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk for heart disease! Nutrition, physical activity and managing emotional health are all key pieces to living a heart-healthy lifestyle. Listen as Kirksak Jay Poonkasem, MD explains how your lifestyle influences and choices impact your heart health. Below are more resources to help you understand how lifestyle impacts your heart’s health.
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Food and Your Heart
A healthy diet is one way to help impact or lower your risk for heart disease. Here are some more resources to help you learn more about how nutrition impacts heart health.
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Physical Activity and Your Heart
Physical activity and exercise are part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Here’s some great information on exercise and your heart:
- Physical Activity and Your Heart How Exercise Improves Heart Health
- Get in the Zone: Target Heart Rate Zones
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Emotional and Mental Wellness
Our emotional and mental health can impact physical health! Here are a few helpful resources to manage stress:
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Understanding more about your risk factors for heart disease is an important part to helping you lower your risk. Here are some helpful resources:
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Understanding Risks
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All About Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. The force is generated with each heartbeat as blood is pumped from the heart into the blood vessels. High blood pressure, or hypertension, directly increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Learn more about blood pressure and its relationship with heart disease:
- High Blood Pressure
- More Than Just a Number: Blood Pressure and Heart Disease
- Do You Know the Effect of Your Blood Pressure Numbers
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Cholesterol and Heart Health
Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance that can be found in all parts of your body. Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is an essential part of good health. Learn more about its role and how it impacts your heart:
Heart Disease and Heart Attack
Heart disease is a general term referring to a variety of diseases and conditions that affect a person’s heart. Learn more about what heart disease actually is, and its relationship with a heart attack: