Female Risk Factor For Heart Disease: What Do They Include? - Dr. Smolens

Dr. Smolens:

In 2007, in the “Circulation” journal, was published the new updated evidence-based guidelines for women for risk factor modification for heart disease, and there’s a new classification system for risk: high risk, at risk, or optimal risk, and let me explain to you what each of these are. Women who are high risk for heart disease have had previous episodes of heart or vascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes or a known aneurysm.

Also, folks with end-stage renal disease and diabetes mellitus fall into that category. People at risk are those patients who have greater than one or one risk factor for heart disease. That includes smoking, obesity, inactive lifestyle, hypertension, or high lipids, and those people with optimal risk are any individuals without any risk factors whatsoever.

About Dr. Smolens, M.D.:
Board Certified Cardiothoracic Surgeon Iva Smolens, M.D., serves as medical director of the Women's Heart Center at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa, Arizona. She currently serves on the American Heart Association’s Board of Directors for the Phoenix metropolitan area.

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Tags

• Heart Disease