Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment

10-year CVD risk estimates your probability of having a heart attack or stroke in the next decade. It's based on the Framingham Heart Study. Risk factors include: age, gender, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes. Low risk: <10%. Moderate: 10-20%. High: >20%.

Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when you have 3+ of these 5 criteria: 1) Large waist (≥40in men, ≥35in women), 2) High triglycerides (≥150 mg/dL), 3) Low HDL (<40 men, <50 women), 4) High BP (≥130/85 or on meds), 5) High fasting glucose (≥100 mg/dL). It increases heart disease and diabetes risk.

Our diabetes risk score considers: BMI (especially >30), waist circumference, family history, age >45, sedentary lifestyle, and fasting glucose (prediabetes: 100-125 mg/dL). High scores suggest prediabetes screening (A1C test) is warranted.

Blood pressure categories (AHA guidelines): Normal: <120/80 mmHg. Elevated: 120-129/<80. Hypertension Stage 1: 130-139/80-89. Hypertension Stage 2: ≥140/≥90. Hypertensive Crisis: >180/120 (emergency). Target: <120/80 for most adults.

BMI categories: Underweight: <18.5. Normal: 18.5-24.9. Overweight: 25-29.9. Obese Class I: 30-34.9. Obese Class II: 35-39.9. Obese Class III: ≥40. BMI has limitations—it doesn't account for muscle mass or fat distribution. Waist circumference adds useful context.

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) measures fat distribution. Abdominal (visceral) fat is more dangerous than hip/thigh fat. High risk WHR: >0.9 for men, >0.85 for women. High waist circumference alone (>40in men, >35in women) is also a metabolic syndrome criterion.

Optimal levels: Total cholesterol: <200 mg/dL. LDL ('bad'): <100 mg/dL. HDL ('good'): >60 mg/dL. Triglycerides: <150 mg/dL. Total/HDL ratio: <4. High LDL and low HDL increase heart disease risk significantly.

Smoking is the #1 modifiable risk factor. It doubles cardiovascular risk, damages arteries, raises blood pressure, reduces HDL cholesterol, and promotes clot formation. Quitting reduces heart disease risk by 50% within one year. Former smokers still have elevated risk vs. never-smokers.

Fasting glucose categories: Normal: <100 mg/dL. Prediabetes: 100-125 mg/dL. Diabetes: ≥126 mg/dL. Prediabetes is reversible with lifestyle changes (5-7% weight loss, exercise). A1C test provides 2-3 month average blood sugar.

Regular exercise reduces risk of heart disease (30-40%), type 2 diabetes (30-50%), stroke (25%), and certain cancers. It lowers BP, improves cholesterol, aids weight management, and reduces stress. Target: 150 min/week moderate or 75 min/week vigorous activity.

Yes, family history is a significant non-modifiable risk factor. If parents/siblings had heart disease before 55 (men) or 65 (women), your risk increases 2-3x. Family history of diabetes also raises your risk. You can't change genetics, but can control other factors more aggressively.

Chronic stress raises cortisol, increases blood pressure, promotes inflammation, and leads to unhealthy coping (overeating, smoking). High stress is linked to 40% higher risk of heart disease. Stress management—exercise, sleep, meditation—is a valid cardiovascular intervention.

Our wellness score (0-100) starts at 100 and deducts points for risk factors: obesity (-15), hypertension (-15), smoking (-20), sedentary lifestyle (-10), high cholesterol (-10), high diabetes risk (-12), metabolic syndrome (-15), poor sleep (-5), high stress (-5). Higher = better.

Recommended screening frequency: Blood pressure: annually (more if elevated). Cholesterol: every 4-6 years, or annually if high. Blood glucose: every 3 years after age 45, or earlier if overweight. Full physical: annually. More frequent if you have risk factors.

Many risk factors are modifiable: 5-7% weight loss can prevent diabetes progression. Quitting smoking halves heart risk in 1 year. BP responds to diet/exercise in weeks. Cholesterol improves with statins and lifestyle. Even genetic risk can be offset by healthy habits. Prevention is powerful.