Cardiac risk assessment

What is a cardiac risk assessment?

This is a group of tests and health facts that are used to assess your prospect of having a affection attack .

What is included in a cardiac risk assessment?

There are two types of hazard factors, those you can ’ t modify and those you can do something about. The Heart Foundation lists the risks below :

Non-modifiable risk factors

• Increasing age
• Gender
• Ethnic background
• Family history of heart disease  

Modifiable risk factors
For more information from the Heart Foundation or other support organisations on each of these modifiable risk factors click on one of the headings above.

australian guidelines now recommend that your “ absolute risk ” be measured. This is done by taking the factors listed below into account and using a risk calculator to assess your risk of developing cardiovascular disease over the future five years.

The factors are :

• your blood pressure
• age
• cholesterol level
• sex 
• whether or not you smoke
• have diabetes 
• have chronic kidney disease
• have particular abnormalities on your ECG 
• have a family history of CVD or high cholesterol

This is explained further in the Heart Foundation publication “ How to have a healthy heart ”. You can besides download an app and calculate your BMI on their site .

What other tests are used to assess cardiac risk? 

Checking for diabetes by measuring fasting rake glucose, an HbA1c level or performing a glucose tolerance test is much required. early designation of chronic kidney disease is besides important as this is a risk factor. early blood tests that may be used in special circumstances to assess your risk of kernel disease include homocysteine ( an that comes from the convention breakdown of in the body ), lipoprotein a ( Lp ( a ) ), and C-reactive protein high sensitivity ( hsCRP ). Raised levels of any of these may indicate increased risk of having a heart attack and allow contraceptive measures to be taken, for exercise, by changes to diet and exercise habits.

How is treatment determined? 

discussion will be based on many factors – including the results of the above tests, your age and sex, and your kin and personal aesculapian history .

Is there anything else I should know? 

Eating a healthy diet and exercising are crucial in reducing rake pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides. Smoking increases the risk of center disease by 2 to 3 times and frankincense avoiding or stopping smoke is very authoritative. There are besides drugs ( known as ) that are effective in lowering cholesterol. There are some forms of raised cholesterol or triglycerides that are genetically inherited and can not constantly be lowered sufficiently by diet and drill. These normally require discussion with lipid-lowering drugs such as statins angstrom well as diet and drill.

Common Questions

Are some people more at risk for a heart attack than others?

Yes. For most Australians being aged over 45 is a gamble factor but for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders increased hazard starts at senesce 35. Those who are corpulence, roll of tobacco, have high gear blood atmospheric pressure or diabetes, abnormal gamble test results, and those with a class history of heart disease are at greater risk .

Are there home test kits for determining if I am at risk for a heart attack?

Tests for cholesterol are available but since this is merely one risk factor, having an absolute risk assessment performed by your own doctor of the church is much more useful. once a risk score has been calculated home monitor of some risk factors in close consultation with your GP may sometimes be used .

last Review Date : March 25, 2021

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