Heart Health Questionnaire

Learn your personal risk for heart disease with our quick, evidence-based Heart Disease Risk Assessment. In just a few minutes, you’ll get personalized insights and resources to protect your heart health.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S.—but most cases are preventable. Research shows that based on health risk assessment findings, diet and exercise, and appropriate medications initiated early, significantly reduce the incidence of heart attacks, strokes, and related mortality.

Understanding your risk is the first step toward better heart health.

A heart health risk assessment can provide a wealth of information about your current cardiovascular health and your future likelihood of developing heart disease. Here's a breakdown of what you can learn:

• Do you have a low, moderate, or high risk of heart disease? This is often the primary takeaway. You'll understand where you stand in terms of your overall risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event in the next 5-10 years.
   
• What's your risk score? Do you have a 10% chance of developing heart disease? 20%? More? Seeing your individual risk score can be a powerful motivator for change.

The heart disease assessment will highlight specific factors that are contributing to your risk. These commonly include:

• Age: Older age is a significant risk factor.
• Sex: Men generally have a higher risk at a younger age than women.
• Family History: A history of early heart disease in close relatives increases your risk.
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): A major contributor to heart disease.
• High Cholesterol (Dyslipidemia): Specifically high LDL ("bad") cholesterol and low HDL ("good") cholesterol.
• Diabetes Mellitus: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes significantly increase heart disease risk.
• Smoking Status: One of the most modifiable and impactful risk factors.
• Obesity/Overweight: Excess body weight, particularly around the abdomen.
• Lack of Physical Activity: A sedentary lifestyle is detrimental.
• Unhealthy Diet: Diets high in saturated/trans fats, sodium, and sugar.
• Stress: Chronic stress can contribute indirectly to heart disease.
• Certain Medical Conditions: Kidney disease, autoimmune disorders, sleep apnea, etc.

This is arguably the most valuable aspect. Based on your specific risk factors, you'll receive guidance on:

Lifestyle Modifications

• Dietary changes: Reducing saturated/trans fats, sugar, and sodium; increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Exercise recommendations: How much and what type of physical activity is appropriate.
• Smoking cessation: Strategies and resources to quit smoking.
• Weight management: Tips for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
• Stress management techniques: Mindfulness, meditation, time management. 

Medical Interventions

• Medication: If your risk is high, your doctor might recommend medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes.
• Regular screenings: Recommendations for continued monitoring of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
• Referrals: To specialists like a dietitian, exercise physiologist, or sleep specialist. VMFH provides access to primary care doctors and any specialist you would need.

What is your current risk level? How do you identify risk factors? Will personalized recommendations for reducing your risk of heart disease help?

If you're concerned about your heart health, take the heart disease risk assessment.

Make your heart happy! Get a personalized understanding of your risk:

• Beyond General Advice: While general health advice is good, a heart disease risk assessment provides a personalized picture of your specific risk based on your unique combination of factors (age, family history, lifestyle, medical conditions, etc.). Your results may lead to an interest in discussing risk factors with a heart provider.
• Motivates Lifestyle Changes: Seeing a concrete risk score or categorization can be a powerful motivator to make necessary lifestyle changes. It personalizes the stakes.
• Guides Medical Decisions: For your doctor, the assessment provides crucial information to tailor screening schedules, diagnostic tests, and treatment plans specifically for you.

Think you know your heart? Think again. Your assessment will empowering you with knowledge:

• Informed Decision-Making: Knowing your risk allows you to make informed decisions about your health. You can choose to prioritize certain healthy habits or discuss concerns more effectively with your doctor.
• Reduces Anxiety (or Prompts Action): If your risk is low, it can provide peace of mind. If it's elevated, it provides the necessary information to take action and reduce that risk, which can ultimately lessen future anxiety.
• Understanding Your Family History: If heart disease runs in your family, an assessment helps you understand how that history might impact your future and what steps you can take to mitigate it.

After completing the assessment, you’ll receive a detailed summary of your risk factors and steps to reduce your risk—plus an option to connect with our cardiologists.