Heart attacks are a leading cause of death and disability for men and women. In fact, every 34 seconds someone in the United States has one! Knowing your risk is the first step in making sure that you won’t be a statistic. The Framingham risk score, a simple risk calculator, is a great place to start. First of all, what is a heart attack?
The heart is a muscle that needs a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood in order to function. When blood flow to the heart muscle is restricted or completely blocked, it becomes permanently damaged or stops working altogether. This severe damage or death of the heart muscle is called a heart attack or a myocardial infarction (MI).
Though a heart attack happens within a very short window of time, it actually takes many years for blood flow to the heart muscle to become blocked. Just like a pipe gets clogged over time, the arteries that bring blood to the heart can get clogged up with a waxy substance made up of fat and cholesterol (also called a “plaque”). Anything that makes these plaques develop and grow is considered a risk factor for a heart attack.
Know your risk
What risk factors do you have? It’s important to know so you can take action. The Framingham risk score uses the following risk factors identified from the Framingham Heart Study to predict your chance of having a heart attack within the next 10 years.
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TOPFIT Daily Activities --- Heavy Bag
I kind of took it easy today and only made time for a 30 min heavy bag workout.
~Feelin' Alive!~
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