Q: At what age should you check cardiovascular risk?

ESC guidelines recommend cardiovascular risk assessment for all adults starting at age 40, even without symptoms. Those with a family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, or hypertension should start earlier. Check every 3-5 years if risk is low, annually if moderate or high.

Cardiovascular Risk Calculator

Estimate your 10-year cardiovascular risk based on age, blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk factors.

How Cardiovascular Risk Is Calculated

Cardiovascular diseases (heart attack, stroke, angina) are the leading cause of death worldwide. The good news is that the risk is predictable and largely preventable.

How to Read the Result

10-Year Risk	Level	Meaning
< 5%	Low	Maintain a healthy lifestyle
5-10%	Moderate	Improve modifiable factors
10-20%	Medium-High	Medical consultation recommended
> 20%	High	Medical intervention necessary

Modifiable Risk Factors

Unlike age and sex (non-modifiable), most risk factors can be improved:

Smoking: quitting halves the risk in 1-2 years
Blood pressure: every 10 mmHg reduction in systolic pressure reduces risk by 20%
Cholesterol: Mediterranean diet and statins can reduce LDL cholesterol by 30-50%
Diabetes: good glycemic control significantly reduces vascular complications
Physical activity: 150 minutes weekly of moderate activity reduces risk by 20-30%

This tool provides an indicative estimate and does not replace medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cardiovascular risk?▼

Cardiovascular risk is the probability of experiencing a major cardiovascular event (heart attack or stroke) in the next 10 years. It is calculated considering several risk factors: age, sex, blood pressure, total and HDL cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes.

How can I reduce my cardiovascular risk?▼

Modifiable factors include: quitting smoking (reduces risk by 50% in 1-2 years), controlling blood pressure (target <140/90 mmHg), lowering LDL cholesterol (Mediterranean diet, statins if needed), managing diabetes, regular physical activity (150 min/week), maintaining a healthy weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), and limiting alcohol.

At what age should you check cardiovascular risk?▼

ESC guidelines recommend cardiovascular risk assessment for all adults starting at age 40, even without symptoms. Those with a family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, or hypertension should start earlier. Check every 3-5 years if risk is low, annually if moderate or high.