HEALTH CHALLENGE

HEALTH CHALLENGE: Heart healthCongestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart becomes weakened by blocked arteries or other causes and is unable to pump blood efficiently, usually occurs in men older than 40. Heart attacks can be years in the making, but most men who die of them are older than 65.Taking control: • At 40, without risk factors for cardiovascular disease: Talk to your doctor about adding tests of glucose, urine and C-reactive protein, plus an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) and chest X-ray, to regular blood-pressure and cholesterol checks.• At age 40, with risk factors: Ask about the above tests plus a stress test, echocardiogram and B-natriuretic peptide test.You should know: Smoking adds to the fatty buildup in arteries and elevates blood pressure. But within 20 minutes of quitting, blood pressure drops. Within 24 hours, the chance of a heart attack decreases, and within one year, the extra risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
Age: 50s Ernie Schloss, 56, is fighting colon cancer with chemotherapy and large doses of emotional support.