
Calculate Your 10-year Risk of Heart Disease or Stroke
Calculate your 10-year risk of heart disease or stroke using the ASCVD algorithm published in 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk.
Hyperlipidemia refers to increased levels of lipids (fats) in the blood, including cholesterol and triglycerides. Although hyperlipidemia does not cause symptoms, it can significantly increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including disease of blood vessels supplying the heart (coronary artery disease), brain (cerebrovascular disease), and limbs (peripheral vascular disease). These conditions can in turn lead to chest pain, heart attacks, strokes, and other problems. Because of these risks, treatment is often recommended for people with hyperlipidemia.
High blood pressure—called hypertension—is a type of cardiovascular disease, and it can be a warning sign of bigger problems to come. “For a lot of people, it’s the precursor for more serious conditions,” Dr. Walker says. “It’s the ubiquitous disease that makes everything worse.”
All over the country, men are dying. Every kind of man: rich and poor, blue collar and white collar, men of all races, religions and ethnicities. In addition to sex, these dying Americans share another trait: They are no longer young. How can it be that men by the millions are dying while their female counterparts are not — and no one seems to notice or care?
Between 70% and 89% of sudden cardiac events occur in men. 7.9% of black men, and 6.3% of Mexican American men have coronary heart disease. 50% of the men who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.
Guys often seem to have that “no pain, no gain” mentality more so than women I’ve taught. A lot of times, men seem to be coming to class looking for a more hardcore workout, focusing on strength and flexibility. And maybe some stress relief. In fact, a lot of guys only come to a yoga class for the first time because they are invited by a friend, spouse or girlfriend. They find out quickly that yoga can be a very intense workout.