Target Heart Rate

Your Age

Years Target heart rate is a common way of

judging how hard you should exercise.
This means that if you stop and take
Home your pulse while you're exercising, you
want your heart rate to be within this
range. To take your heart rate, count
the number of pulse beats at your wrist
or neck for 15 seconds and multiply by
4.

This first chart shows your overall target heart rate (88 to 158 beats per
minute).

Exactly where in this range you should be depends on how hard you're
exercising. For example, if you are just beginning an exercise program, it is
safest to target your heart rate in the low intensity range (88 to 112 beats per
minute).

As your fitness level improves, gradually increase to the moderate (114 to 138
beats per minute) and high intensity (140 to 158 beats per minute) areas of
your target zone (as shown in the following two charts). If exercising within
your target heart rate zone seems too difficult, exercise at an intensity that is
comfortable for you.

EBSCO Information Services's proprietary interactive calculators provide general

results based on input provided by the user that is calculated against
measurements or formulas considered standard by various government agencies,
including the USDA, CDC, and FDA. The inputted information consists only of
 single values (e.g., anthropometric data or activity levels) not detailed clinical
information, and the results do not indicate or suggest a specific course of action
unique to the user.

Sources:

Target heart rate and estimated maximum heart rate. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention website. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/measuring/target_heart_rate.htm

Target heart rate. National Institute on Aging website. Available at:

http://www.nia.nih.gov/exercisebook/appendix_a.htm

Coronary Heart Disease

 The major risk factors for CHD are well known and have been studied
extensively. One way of studying these risk factors is to follow large groups of
people over a long period of time, keeping track of their health behaviors and
other relevant indictors, and seeing who ultimately develops CHD and who does
not.
Home
This tool is based on the thirty-plus year experience of men and women who
participated in the Framingham Heart Study, which is probably the best-known
study of its kind. It is designed to help you assess your risk of developing CHD
over the next 10 years if you are between the ages of 30 and 74. It is
important to note that the tool does not take into account all CHD risk factors-
most notably family history-which may compromise the results. Another
drawback is that it is based on a largely white population; however, some
studies have indicated that the results are applicable to African-Americans and
other non-white populations.

Before using the tool, you will need to know your:

 Blood pressure
 Total cholesterol level
 HDL-cholesterol level

Like any assessment tool, a positive result does not mean you have the
condition; it simply means you are likely to benefit from further evaluation by
your doctor.

Please answer the following questions:

1. How old are you?

2. What is your gender?

Male

Female

3. What is your total cholesterol level?

< 160 mg/dl

160–199 mg/dl

200–239 mg/dl

240–279 mg/dl

≥ 280 mg/dl

I don't know

4. What is your HDL-cholesterol ("good cholesterol") level?

< 35 mg/dl
 35–44 mg/dl

45–49 mg/dl

50–59

≥60 mg/dl

I don't know

5. What is your blood pressure (Systolic pressure, top number)?

< 120 mmHg

120–129 mmHg

130–139 mmHg

140–159 mmHg

≥ 160 mmHg

6. What is your blood pressure (Diastolic pressure, bottom number)?

< 80 mmHg

80–84 mmHg

85–89 mmHg

90–99 mmHg

≥ 100 mmHg

7. Do you have diabetes?

Yes

No

8. Do you smoke?

Yes

No

Coronary Heart Disease

 Below average risk.

Home According to this assessment, your risk of developing CHD within the next 10
years is below average compared to other people your age and gender.

While this is excellent news, it is important to note that this assessment does
not take into account all risk factors for CHD, most notably family history. So
even if your score places you at below-average risk, it is still important to
follow up with your doctor if you have a parent or sibling who developed CHD
at a young age (before age 50 for men and before age 60 for women). It is
also recommended that you follow up with your doctor on regular basis to
keep track of your cholesterol levels and blood pressure over time.

Return to Coronary Heart Disease Risk Assessor

EBSCO Information Services's proprietary interactive calculators provide general

results based on input provided by the user that is calculated against
measurements or formulas considered standard by various government agencies,
including the USDA, CDC, and FDA. The inputted information consists only of
single values (e.g., anthropometric data or activity levels) not detailed clinical
information, and the results do not indicate or suggest a specific course of action
unique to the user.

Sources:

Wilson, Peter W.F. MD. D'Agostino, Ralph B. PhD. Levy, Daniel MD. Belanger,
Albert M. BS. Silbershatz, Halit PhD. Kannel, William B. MD.Prediction of Coronary
Heart Disease Using Risk Factor CategoriesCirculation. 97(18):1837-1847, May
12, 1998.

D'Agostino, Ralph B. Sr PhD. Grundy, Scott MD, PhD. Sullivan, Lisa M. PhD.
Wilson, Peter MD. For the CHD Risk Prediction Group.Validation of the
Framingham Coronary Heart Disease Prediction Scores: Results of a Multiple
Ethnic Groups Investigation.JAMA. 286(2):180-7, 2001 Jul 11