Risk Screen: Heart & Stroke’s new online risk assessment tool

A new online tool called Risk Screen can help determine your risk for heart attack and stroke.

Risk Screen is a new online screening tool launched by Heart & Stroke to help Canadians better understand their personal risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

Dr. Christine Faubert, vice president of health equity and mission impact at Heart & Stroke, says they created the free tool to give support to Canadians.

“It supports and gives tips to people they can take to reduce and manage their risks. It’s a really personalized approach to understand one’s own unique risk,” Faubert told CTV Your Morning Atlantic’s Crystal Garrett on Thursday.

Faubert says men and women have similar risk factors like diets and smoking. But she says there are also factors that are unique to women.

“Especially when we think about women’s unique life stages with things like pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, or after menopause. Some of the risks are the same as men and sometimes they will impact women differently,” she said. “It’s important for women to know that these risks are unique to them and how to reduce them or take steps to prevent them.”

After completing the online screening, users will be provided with a profile highlighting their personal risks and a report with recommendations and tips.

“A lot of the risks can be prevented like lifestyle changes and how important it is to eat healthy and try to stay active as much as possible. But there are also risks that cannot be changed but are really critical for people to know.”

Faubert says the tool can also provide a guide for conversations with a healthcare provider or family about things you can integrate into your lifestyle.

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