Celebrate American Heart Month by taking measure to reduce your risk for heart disease. 

While we might see a lot more heart-shaped items around Valentine’s Day, these decorations are a great reminder that February is also American Heart Month. With heart disease being the leading cause of death in men and women in the US, this is the perfect time to learn about your risk for heart disease and the ways in which our Lake Orion, MI, board certified doctor Dr. Joseph Gorz can help you lead a healthier life.

Are you at risk for heart disease? 

Whether you lead a less-than-healthy lifestyle or your family has a history of heart disease it’s never too early to start taking the necessary precautions to protect your health and your heart. Risk factors for heart disease include:

• A family history of heart disease
• Living a sedentary lifestyle
• Poor diet
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol use
• Obesity
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Uncontrolled stress

How can a doctor help me prevent heart disease? 

The first step is to assess your risk for developing heart disease. This includes going through your medical history and performing a physical examination. Of course, our Lake Orion, MI, physician may also order a cardiac calcium scoring.

This non-invasive heart scan or calcium score detects the buildup of plaque, which can narrow or block the arteries of the heart and lead to heart disease or a heart attack. This test helps us better understand your risk for heart attack or disease so that we can take preventive measures to reduce your risk.

If there is plaque present there are certain lifestyle modifications that your doctor many recommend such as:

• Eating a healthier, balanced diet
• Getting regular exercise
• Quitting smoking
• Losing excess weight
• Quitting smoking

This heart scan’s scores are as follows:

Zero: No plaque; risk for heart attack or heart disease is low

1-10: A small amount of plaque, which means that you have a low risk for developing heart disease (only a 10 percent chance)

11-100: This means that you have mild heart disease and there is a moderate risk for heart disease. Your doctor will recommend certain lifestyle changes to reduce your risk.

101-400: This means that you have heart disease and that you have a moderate amount of plaque that may be blocking an artery. You have a moderate to high chance of having a heart attack.

More than 400: There is more than a 90 percent chance that you will have a heart attack; further and immediate testing will be necessary to determine the best course of action.

It’s important to know your risk. Dr. Gorz and his medical team in Lake Orion, MI, can provide you with the knowledge and the peace of mind you need to make necessary changes to improve your health for the long term. Call Neighborhood Primary Care today at (248) 690-9181 to schedule an evaluation