So who is more likely to suffer a heart attack?
- Those at the so-called mild to moderate risk?
- Or those who have a high risk for heart attack?
- The answer is very compelling — given by a cardiologist.
You may have heard somewhere that most heart attacks or cardiac events occur in low to moderate risk people. But is this really a fact?
“Not true. More events will occur in those at the highest risk,” says Dr. Cynthia Thaik, MD, cardiologist and author of “Your Vibrant Heart,” which can be purchased at amazon.com.
“However, by shear numbers, given that more people exist in the low or moderate risk group and are still exposed to heart disease, the absolute number of events appears high in those with low or moderate risk.”
To put this another way, the percentage of people who experience a heart attack or cardiovascular event in the high risk group is larger than the percentage in the low to moderate risk population.
But the total number of heart attacks occur in the low to medium risk group.
If this is confusing, here’s an analogy that may clear it up:
Very elderly people are much more likely to get into a car accident than are people in their 30s. But many more car accidents involve 30-somethings — simply because there are far more 35-year-olds driving than 80-year-olds.
Dr. Thaik adds, “The main teaching or take-home point is that all people must be cognizant of heart disease and not be complacent because they think they are at low risk.
“It is important to be aware of risk factors and change lifestyle to modify the risk.”
Heart Attack Risk Factors
- Excessive daily sitting
- High consumption of processed foods
- Consumption of trans fats
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Apple shaped body
- Lack of exercise
- Untreated sleep apnea
- Family history of heart attack
Dr. Thaik’s clinical interests include congestive heart failure and women’s heart disease, and is affiliated with the American Heart Association.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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