How far you need to take up the suggestions in this chapter obviously
depends partly on your risk of a heart attack.
In the United Kingdom, no one is completely safe from the possibility
of a heart attack. But the risk does differ considerably from one person to
another according to a number of characteristics. You can divide these into
those you can find out about yourself and those that depend on expert
measurements.
You will know or can, probably, find out whether either of your parents
or a brother or sister ever had a heart attack, particularly under the age of
about 55 for female relatives and about 50 for male relatives. You know
whether you have ever smoked, now or in the past, and will have a good idea
about whether you are overweight and how much exercise you take. Heart
attacks in close relatives at a young age, smoking now or in the recent past,
being overweight and taking little exercise all increase the chance of a heart
attack.
Your doctor or practice nurse will measure your blood pressure if this
has not been done in the last 2 or 3 years. They can also arrange for your
blood cholesterol to be measured if this is considered necessary. They will
help you manage your diet and other treatment if you are diabetic. Raised
blood pressure, raised blood cholesterol and diabetes each increases the risk
of a heart attack.
There are a number of other characteristics that are either rare or less
certainly associated with heart attacks (including “stress”) but most attention
should be paid to the factors discussed below.