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Are You Following Steps to Live a Long Healthy Life?

By: Tanya Jolliffe : 1/21/2010 6:21:54 AM : 106 comments : 13,122 Views

As I was working yesterday, I heard a news report about a new heart health program by the American Heart Association. With an older brother that has already suffered a mild heart attack as well as a grandmother that died of heart related issues, I was interested in the report and set out to learn more.

By evaluating seven key health areas, setting goals for those areas where we fall short and establishing a plan to improve, all adults can improve their cardiovascular health according to the American Heart Association. To help people accomplish this, they have developed a seven step assessment tool. The tool will help people from ages 2-99 to:

Understand current levels of cardiovascular health
Assess individual health needs
Commit to steps to improve health and quality of life
Move closer to personal health goals

How can this assessment help you?

The 'Life's Simple 7' assessment process is straightforward --answer simple questions, choose an action plan for each area, and discover your cardiovascular health rating by receiving a score between 1 and 10. If you achieve an 'excellent' rating in all areas, the AHA believes you would be at your 'ideal' cardiovascular health. The 'Simple 7' goals to achieve ideal cardiovascular health include :

Never smoked or quit more than a year ago.
Body mass index less than 25.
At least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise each week.
A healthy diet including at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day, low sugar intake, a sodium intake of less than 1,500 mg, 2-3 servings of fish each week. (ETA - 3 daily servings of fiber rich whole grains -- which was inadvertantly left out.)
A total cholesterol of 200 or lower.
A blood pressure below 120/80.
A fasting blood sugar of 100 or lower.

I was curious what my score would be since I am active and eat well but am not perfect and do take prescription medication. I completed the assessment and received a 7.5 out of 10 because of my weight, the fact that I answered that I don't always get 2-3 servings of fish each week, don't consume less than 1,500 mg of sodium and entered a blood pressure from my last doctor visit that was borderline. If I changed the blood pressure, my score improved to 9.2 out of 10.

The American Heart Association initiated this new program because they have a long-term goal of improving U.S. cardiovascular health by 20 percent and reducing cardiovascular disease and stroke deaths by 20 percent by 2020.

What is your score and do you have a plan and support system in place to help you improve it?

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Comments (Scroll to end to leave a comment)

PAULINLIM 5/4/2010 4:10:03 PM	I scored a 10! But it doesn't ask if you eat a lot of cakes and cookies-- my downfall.	106
TSCRAPPER 5/2/2010 11:56:13 PM	WooHoo 9.2 that's pretty good. Need to work on the weight again it's creeping back up 10-12 pounds, I'm very stressed right now my Dad has Alzheimer's. Need to eat fish consistently and more fruit and veggies too.	105
CELLE98 4/30/2010 2:02:38 PM	I took the assessment. Since when is 120/80 considered high blood pressure????? That's always been the "normal" pressure.	104
TDIPRINCESS 4/29/2010 11:15:38 AM	I got 8.9..not bad, but I'd like to get it better. Here's my problem: I'm vegetarian, why would I eat fish?!?!?! Anyhow, I put yes to the question, since it's really a matter of getting enough omega-3 fatty acids and a low-fat, high protein source all in one. I get enough healthy fat, and LOTS of low-fat, high protein each day...so I felt okay putting yes. I kinda wish there had just been a question about if you get enough healthy fat and have high protein sources other than meat..	103
MNNURSEKATIE 4/29/2010 10:53:17 AM	Wow I got a 9.8 pretty dang good.	102
HELEN74AU 4/29/2010 7:17:59 AM	The link doesnt work for me. Any suggestions?	101
GETITDUN 2/1/2010 6:09:54 PM	Doing alot better.	100
VANESSASWORLD 1/27/2010 4:41:53 PM	I got a 7.4 but only because I don't know my current cholesterol, blood pressure or blood sugar numbers. Have to wait until my benefits kick in at my new job then go get a check up & try it again! I did however score "Excellent" on my physical activity so that's kind of nice	99
JUDEMARG 1/27/2010 12:35:03 AM	I took the assestment and ot a 7.9, not bad but there is a lot of need for improvement. Exercise has to become a big priority in my life, walking is the easier for me because of my knees I am beginning to try to build some strength in my legs especially getting up and down steps and up & down in chairs. More fish each week and I like fish but I hate to cook for myself. If you have the faith of a mustard seed nothing will be impossible for you.	98
KAT573 1/26/2010 1:11:44 PM	Well I know my blood pressure is weird; it goes upppppppppppp and dowwwwwwwwwwnnnnnn and I imagine it is mostly due to the multitude of meds I have to take, and I am suspecting, WHEN I take them relative to each other, so I doubt I would do well altho I limit sodium, exercise consistently, and don't smoke or drink (much....and not at all during this three months coming up), but I do have 30 lbs I need to lose and my visceral fat is not in the safe range; body fat is not in the optimal range......doing mooskel training tho. :)	97
PSALM22 1/26/2010 10:53:18 AM	I chose to not take the assessment. I detest how many sites offer free assessments but demand your name and e-mail before they will provide the results. Collecting my zip code is OK. I can understand that for demographic analysis. But not the rest.	96
BLUESKY104 1/26/2010 10:24:31 AM	I got 7.7 and got lots of good recommendations for me to work on to get that score higher :-)	95
TIFFYFANNY 1/26/2010 9:52:45 AM	I got an 8.4, which is pretty good I think, because I didn't know my cholesterol and blood sugar numbers. I know I am within normal range for both though. Can't get a 10 when you have 50% body fat though. :)	94
XENA1956 1/25/2010 12:30:14 AM	Wow I got a 9. Stopped smoking over 12 yrs ago, my blood pressure at the doctors on Friday was 112/72, my total cholesterol is 148. Need to improve on the amount of fish and fruits and I wasn't sure of my sugar level but know I do not have diabetes. I eat too much sodium. Oh well	93
GEORGIANNE1 1/24/2010 5:07:27 PM	10.0 This is very interesting as I don't consider myself near the peak of health. I'm usually very tired, and I feel I'm not as strong as I should be. I also fight a regular feelings of depression. I think each person can do their own assessment the best. Do not rely too heavily on someone else's tool.	92
IWANNABEE 1/24/2010 3:43:40 PM	7.5 - not as bad as I feared. Of course I want to get this number higher. I need to lose close to 100 lbs. and be more consistent with the exercise! Thanks for the link. This is a really good tool to get us motivated! We can do this! Hugs, Jo	91
NSWEETU4IA 1/24/2010 12:39:00 PM	5.9. yikes! :(	90
SMVLCT1 1/24/2010 10:39:34 AM	5.5 i thought i was doing good but i am not. so i have to kick it up a notch.	89
SLIMLILA 1/24/2010 12:40:31 AM	8.4 - made me feel good about the changes I have made... now just need to make sure I keep them up and get that weight down. As for other Cdn. I just used 90210 as my zip and because the US diabetes number are different, I just said I don't know, so I was able to complete test....	88
COUNCIMA 1/23/2010 11:12:43 PM	I scored 8.2 mainly because of my blood pressure. I take medication and my numbers can improve. I am overweight and my physical activity needs improvement. So there is much work for me to do. I will get there....	87
CHICORYA2 1/23/2010 11:08:25 PM	7.9, mostly because of my weight. My hypertension, for which I've been on medication since age 29 when I wore size 5, is a hereditary condition. It is controlled quite well, but they'd like it to be lower.	86
JOS4EVER 1/23/2010 9:16:05 PM	6.9 I have some work ahead of me. I need to eat a healthier diet and lose weight.	85
CBRENNAN2 1/23/2010 5:24:44 PM	Wow, I got a 9.7. Ive been working on eating more fruit, and veggies daily. i got a higher score too because I do a lot of intense exercise each week, and I am a normal weight, though I am still 10 pounds from my goal. I do need to eat more fish, which I love. It's just pretty expensive right now.	84
ROBINRS 1/23/2010 10:10:07 AM	6.9 I already know I have to keep losing weight and just two weeks ago I started a plan to have fish weekly but I'm adjusting that to twice weekly. Not knowing my cholesterol also brought my score down so I need to have that checked. Many of the suggestions that were listed are things I am already working on. I just takes time. If I had taken this a year ago my score would have been lower because of blood pressure and little exercise. I'll check back periodically to watch my number grow. I am not concerned about living a long life but I am concerned about being well while I am here on this earth.	83
LAURIE5658 1/23/2010 10:01:34 AM	I received a 10.0 and I work very hard every day to get that score. I was very honest with the answers and I was very very happy with the results!!! Woot!	82
ICANBHEALTHY2 1/23/2010 9:25:29 AM	9.1 - I have to increase my physical activity and keep it there!	81
BDORAN 1/23/2010 9:03:11 AM	6.9 I need to lose more weight and exercise more. Working on both!	80
ROSETATT 1/23/2010 7:55:18 AM	I got a 7.5 due to the fact that I am overweight and quit smoking 1.5 months ago.....my goal is a 10!!!	79
LLLAWSON 1/23/2010 7:36:55 AM	Scored 9.3 Need to work on the veggie/fruit thing and 1 more serving of fish.	78
VANANDEL 1/22/2010 11:06:36 PM	I scored 9.6 - the one area for improvement is my cholesterol which is 205 overall (they want it to be below 200). My HDLs are really good. I believe the issue for me is sweets, but I don't know if it an issue with fats or an issue with sugar. I wasn't sure about the sodium.	77
TYBRAI 1/22/2010 7:40:34 PM	I got 7.8, because I don't know my blood pressure nor my blood sugar level and I am overweight	76
SUGARPLUM85 1/22/2010 6:49:49 PM	Whoo Hoo 9.8!! According to them I need more whole grains ( I am trying) , fish (I am a mountain girl!) and less salt (I am a saltaholic-I admit) Otherwise I am OK!	75
JAY75REY 1/22/2010 6:16:32 PM	6.8 No surprises, and I'm already doing a lot to improve. Lost 30 lbs in 2009 and still Sparkin' along! Great article and test; I think American Heart Assn and American Diabetes Assn have great websites and resources for us!	74
LOU1DAY 1/22/2010 2:49:19 PM	I come from a family of "unhealthy" hearts; the problems show up when we hit the later years. I got an 8.6, with a Needs Improvement on some things I thought were doing pretty good: cholesterol was 8 points over the line; bp of 125/65 seemed good to me, but should be lower; need to eat even more fruits & veggies as well as fish. Need to lower the sodium, though it's really a struggle to get it under 1700 daily, let alone the 1500 they want. Weight was a warning, of course.	73
SHERYLP461 1/22/2010 2:30:27 PM	7.6, I know my cholesteral and blood sugar are good per my doctor this tuesday, but don't know the numbers	72
PUMPKINPHD 1/22/2010 12:46:52 PM	9.8 I couldn't remember my blood sugar levels (It couldn't hurt to cut down on sugar & carbs, though) and I've been slacking on the exercise since I started my desk job this summer. I started taking a second dance class, so that should help, but it's only moderate-level exercise--more muscle isolation stuff than cardio. I need to start walking more during my lunch hour & take the stairs (I'm 10 floors up from my car--that's a lot of stairs for me!)	71
VANNASMOM 1/22/2010 12:43:22 PM	I scored a 7.4. When I get my cholesterol, bp, and glucose numbers i"ll do it again so I have the full picture.	70
SPIIRITBEAR 1/22/2010 11:56:21 AM	It was 6.3, but there were quite a few numbers I didn't know. All the other areas were doing well, once I visit my doctor and learn my numbers I think I will do much better.	69
*AMBER512 1/22/2010 11:54:55 AM	8.9 Brought down by the fact that I don't eat any meat (fish included) I don't eat less than 1,500 mg sodium, although I am getting less than 2,300 which it didn't ask me! And I don't know my blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels	68
IMEMINETIME 1/22/2010 11:47:31 AM	7 out of 10. I have some work to do and I know that. The first step is knowing you have to move, eat right, lose weight, read labels, and know your health numbers. I'm proud that I'm moving in a positive direction.	67
CHRIS3215 1/22/2010 11:01:24 AM	I'm doing FANTASTIC!!.. I have all right!!.. My weight is great -I dont have to worry about nothing.. Thanks.. SO I say I scored a 10!!	66
MELLIESTINSON 1/22/2010 9:42:00 AM	My weight loss group that I meet with has been focusing on heart health right now. I'm going to do the quiz and take my results to it! =-) Also -- I know my blood pressure and weight are too high, but, I'm working on them both! I also don't eat as much fish as they recommend, but I'm going to work on adding some more of it as well.	65
WENDYRS 1/22/2010 9:34:13 AM	I scored an 8.9! I'm currently only eating fish once a week, and my blood sugar is 102 - just 2 points too high! But I'm doing great otherwise. I feel like I am working towards a better lifestyle every day!	64
DOPKIGIRL 1/22/2010 8:44:55 AM	I know I have to work on my BMI, and eating more fish and incorporate more veggies and fruits. I am making progress, though. Slow and steady, and consistent steps.	63
SYBILBAKER 1/22/2010 8:17:11 AM	9.0 gotta lose weight and monitor my blood sugar better, which I have been intensely working on	62
FRAN_CVLRN 1/22/2010 8:15:38 AM	8.6-mostly due to my BMI and the fact that I don't eat enough fruits and veggies. All things to work on. I did bookmark the site and plan to retake it in about 6 months.	61
LAURAG71 1/22/2010 7:34:16 AM	I scored a 9.2!!! Still have to improve in certain areas like eating more fish and whole grains. I have some everyday but not as much as they suggested.	60
LIZABAKER 1/22/2010 6:04:31 AM	Living in MI we don't get that much fish - could definitely work on that. But WOOHOO - I got a 10!	59
BTVMADS 1/22/2010 5:49:49 AM	I have no idea what my cholesterol or blood sugar levels are, so I guess my first action step would be to find those out!	58
LADY_JOSIELOT 1/22/2010 3:10:07 AM	8.4 because of my BMI, the fact that I don't eat fish (mainly vegetarian and I don't eat any seafood, yuck), and the fact that my fasting blood sugar is about 115. - Josie	57