HALFPRIN® AND YOUR HEART
Studies on low strength aspirin therapy have shown significant results in both heart attack survival and prevention, as well as stroke prevention. In addition, encouraging early findings suggest that individuals on long-term aspirin therapy for cardiovascular benefits might also be at reduced risk for certain types of cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease. Although additional research is necessary to confirm this, it's an exciting possibility.
FACTS ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
- More than one in three (81 million) U.S. adults have one or more types of cardiovascular disease, (2) and more than half are under the age of 60 (3)
- 16.8 million adult Americans suffer from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) (5)
- 7.9 million people suffer from Myocardial Infarction (MI or heart attack) (6)
- 8.9 million people suffer from Angina Pectoris (AP or chest pain) (6)
RISK FACTORS for HEART DISEASE
The American Heart Association has identified several factors that increase the risk of heart disease. The more risk factors one has, the greater the risks of having a heart attack. Some of these risk factors you can't control, such as age, family health history, race or gender. But you can modify, treat or control most risk factors to lower your risk.
Uncontrollable risk factors include:
- Age (men 45+; women 55+)
- Family history of heart disease
- Previous heart attack or stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA is a warning or mini stroke)
- Post-menopausal
- Race (African Americans, Native Americans, and Mexican Americans are more likely to have heart disease
than Caucasians)
Controllable risk factors include:
- Elevated total cholesterol
- High LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and low HDL ("good" cholesterol)
- Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Obesity (more than 20% over one's ideal body weight).
- Uncontrolled diabetes.
- Stress
