Family history and diet can all play a role in increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke -- and often people don't even realize they're at risk. Now, a new self-assessment tool could help change that.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation has launched an online list of questions that may help people "clue in" to their risk factors sooner. It includes questions about diet, family history and activity levels -- all of which can play a role in heart disease and stroke. Once the test is complete, the red flags in your lifestyle are highlighted and you are given an action plan, including lifestyle changes that can have a big impact on blood pressure.
Craig Gardner once suffered chest pains and was diagnosed as having heart disease at the age of just 38. He had been inactive and working at a high-stress job. Today, he is taking steps to change his life.
"It's amazing that I didn't clue in, with my strong family history I should never let myself get that big and inactive," he said.
Gardner says having an online test would have helped him at the time.
"You answer all the questions and then that's what makes you realize it's not just one thing, it could be a couple. When you put them all together it really opens your eyes."
Dr. John McNeil of Heart and Stroke Foundation says the variety of questions asked create a good picture of the patient's health.
"You can't control your genetics, but you can control what you eat, whether you exercise, smoke or not, how you deal with stress," he said.
With the recent snowfall, it's a timely reminder that shoveling the white stuff can put a lot of stress on the heart, and increase the chance of a heart attack.
For people who may be out of shape, shoveling snow gets the heart pumping and blood pressure up. The cold weather can also cause the arteries to constrict, leading to less blood flow to the heart.
The increased stress on the heart could put those who are predisposed to a heart attack at higher risk.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Dr. Rhonda Low
