Heart Attack and Stroke in Grand Rapids, MI: How to Calculate Your Risk Score

Cardiovascular disease—including heart attack and stroke—is a leading cause of illness and death in Michigan and here in Grand Rapids. Because many risk factors are “silent,” understanding your personal risk score is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your heart and brain health.

In Grand Rapids, major healthcare systems like Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health all offer services to help you assess and lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Coronary Heart Disease: The Main Cause of Heart Attacks

Coronary heart disease (CHD) happens when the arteries that supply blood to your heart become narrowed or blocked, usually due to a buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis). This can lead to:

  • Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
  • Angina (chest pain)
  • Heart failure

Many people in Grand Rapids and across the U.S. have coronary heart disease without any symptoms. You can feel fine and still be at high risk for a heart attack or stroke.

Why Your Heart Attack and Stroke Risk Can Be “Silent”

Some major risk factors rarely cause noticeable symptoms until serious damage has already occurred. These include:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • High cholesterol
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Overweight or obesity

In West Michigan, cold winters can also affect blood pressure and circulation, and people tend to be less active during icy or snowy months—further increasing cardiovascular risk.

Because of this, Grand Rapids doctors often recommend a formal risk assessment, known as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk score.

What Is a Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score?

Your cardiovascular disease risk score is a percentage that estimates your chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 5–10 years. It’s based on:

  • Your age and sex
  • Blood pressure
  • Cholesterol levels
  • Smoking status
  • Diabetes status
  • Other medical and family history factors

Your Grand Rapids primary care provider may use tools like the ASCVD Risk Estimator (commonly used in U.S. clinics) to calculate this score.

The result typically places you into one of three categories:

  • Low risk
  • Intermediate (moderate) risk
  • High risk

If you already have certain conditions (for example, known heart disease, previous heart attack or stroke, or very high cholesterol), your doctor may consider you high risk automatically, and a formal score may not be needed.

What Is a Heart Health Check in Grand Rapids?

A Heart Health Check is a focused visit with your doctor or nurse practitioner to assess your heart attack and stroke risk and create a plan to reduce it.

In Grand Rapids, you can schedule a Heart Health Check with:

  • Your primary care provider at Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • A community health clinic (for example, through the Kent County Health Department or local federally qualified health centers)

What Happens During a Heart Health Check?

Your healthcare provider will typically:

  1. Ask about your lifestyle

    • Diet and eating habits
    • Physical activity level (including how active you are during winter months)
    • Smoking or vaping
    • Alcohol use
    • Stress, anxiety, depression, and social support

  2. Review your medical and family history

    • High blood pressure
    • High cholesterol
    • Diabetes or prediabetes
    • Kidney disease
    • History of heart disease or stroke in your family (especially before age 65)

  3. Check key measurements

    • Blood pressure
    • Weight and body mass index (BMI)
    • Waist circumference (if needed)

  4. Order or review blood tests

    • Total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”), HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and triglycerides
    • Blood sugar (fasting glucose or A1c)

  5. Calculate your cardiovascular disease risk score

    • Using your test results and history
    • Then explain whether you are at low, intermediate, or high risk

Knowing your risk score helps you and your Grand Rapids doctor make immediate, personalized decisions to improve your heart health.

Risk Factors for Heart Attack and Stroke

Your doctor will look at both modifiable and non‑modifiable risk factors when calculating your risk score.

Modifiable Risk Factors (Things You Can Change)

These are risk factors you can work on with support from your healthcare team:

  • Tobacco smoking or vaping
  • Poor diet (high in saturated fat, trans fat, salt, and added sugar)
  • Physical inactivity, especially during long Michigan winters
  • Overweight or obesity
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • High cholesterol
  • Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
  • High alcohol intake
  • Depression, anxiety, chronic stress, and social isolation

Non‑Modifiable Risk Factors (Things You Can’t Change)

These factors still matter for your risk score, but you cannot change them:

  • Age (risk increases as you get older)
  • Sex at birth (men tend to have earlier risk; women’s risk rises after menopause)
  • Family history of early heart disease or stroke
    • A parent, brother, or sister who had a heart attack or stroke before age 65
  • Certain ethnic backgrounds with higher cardiovascular risk

In the U.S., some racial and ethnic groups—including Black, South Asian, and some Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander populations—have a higher average risk of heart disease and stroke. In Grand Rapids, health providers also pay close attention to disparities in cardiovascular health among African American and Latino communities.

How Your Risk Score Is Calculated

After gathering your information and test results, your doctor will use a risk calculator to estimate your percentage chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the next several years.

Your result might look like:

  • 5% risk – low risk
  • 10% risk – intermediate risk
  • 20% or more – high risk

Your doctor or cardiologist will explain:

  • What your number means
  • How your Michigan lifestyle (diet, activity, winter habits) affects that risk
  • Which changes could lower your score the most

Making Changes Based on Your Risk Score

Depending on your category (low, intermediate, or high risk), your Grand Rapids doctor may recommend:

  • Lifestyle changes only
  • Lifestyle changes plus medication
  • More frequent monitoring and follow‑up visits

Common Medications Used to Lower Risk

Some people may need medicines to reduce their risk, such as:

  • Cholesterol‑lowering medicines (e.g., statins)
  • Blood pressure medicines
  • Blood‑thinning medications (if appropriate)
  • Diabetes medications to control blood sugar

Your provider at Corewell Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health, or Mercy Health will review the benefits, risks, and side effects with you and monitor your progress.

Heart‑Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Grand Rapids Residents

No matter what your risk score is, there are steps you can take right now to improve your heart health and lower your chance of heart attack and stroke.

1. Follow a Heart‑Healthy Eating Pattern

Aim for a diet rich in:

  • Plenty of vegetables and fruit
  • Whole grains (oats, whole‑wheat bread, brown rice, barley)
  • A variety of healthy protein‑rich foods, especially:
    • Fish and seafood (2–3 times per week if possible)
    • Legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas)
    • Nuts and seeds
    • Eggs and poultry in moderation
  • Unflavored milk, yogurt, and cheese
    • If you have heart disease or high cholesterol, choose reduced‑fat varieties
  • Healthy fats and oils
    • Nuts, seeds, avocados, olives, and their oils
  • Herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor food

If you eat red meat:

  • Choose lean cuts
  • Limit to 1–3 times per week

Limit:

  • Processed meats (bacon, sausage, deli meats)
  • Sugary drinks
  • Fried and fast foods
  • Highly processed snacks

You can ask your Grand Rapids doctor for a referral to a registered dietitian at a local hospital or clinic for personalized nutrition advice.

2. Be Physically Active Year‑Round

Aim for at least:

  • 150 minutes per week of moderate‑intensity activity (like brisk walking), or
  • 75 minutes per week of vigorous activity (like running), plus
  • Muscle‑strengthening activities on 2 or more days per week

Ideas for staying active in Grand Rapids:

  • Walking on local trails such as the Grand River Edges Trail or neighborhood sidewalks
  • Using indoor walking tracks, community centers, or gyms during icy or snowy weather
  • Home workouts, online exercise classes, or indoor cycling when it’s too cold outside

Ask your doctor about a supervised exercise or cardiac rehabilitation program if you have existing heart disease or are at high risk.

3. Drink Less Alcohol

If you drink alcohol:

  • Do so in moderation
  • Talk with your doctor about safe limits, especially if you take medications or have high blood pressure, liver disease, or heart disease

4. Stop Smoking and Vaping

Smoking is one of the most powerful risk factors for heart attack and stroke. If you smoke or vape:

  • Ask your doctor about quit‑smoking programs, nicotine replacement, or medications
  • Use local resources and hotlines that support tobacco cessation

Quitting smoking at any age will lower your risk and improve your heart and lung health.

5. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Losing even a modest amount of weight (5–10% of your body weight) can:

  • Lower blood pressure
  • Improve cholesterol
  • Reduce blood sugar
  • Decrease overall cardiovascular risk

Your Grand Rapids healthcare provider can help you set realistic goals and connect you with weight‑management programs.

6. Look After Your Mental Health

Depression, anxiety, chronic stress, and social isolation can all increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Consider:

  • Talking with your primary care provider about your mood and stress
  • Seeing a therapist or counselor through local clinics or hospital systems
  • Joining support groups or community programs in Grand Rapids
  • Staying socially connected with family, friends, and community organizations

Using a Heart Age Calculator

A Heart Age Calculator estimates how your “heart age” compares to your actual age based on your risk factors.

  • If your heart age is older than your real age, your risk of heart attack or stroke is likely higher.
  • Improving your lifestyle and managing risk factors can help lower your heart age over time.

Ask your Grand Rapids doctor if they use a heart age tool or try a reputable online heart age calculator recommended by major heart organizations.

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, Michigan

If you are concerned about your risk of heart attack or stroke, or if you want a Heart Health Check, you have many options locally:

  • Your GP / Primary Care Provider
    Schedule a visit with your family doctor or internal medicine provider.

  • Local Hospitals and Health Systems

    • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) – cardiology and primary care clinics
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health

  • Kent County Health Department & Grand Rapids Public Health Programs
    These organizations may offer screenings, education, and community health programs.

  • Registered Dietitians and Diabetes Educators
    Available through local hospitals and clinics to help with nutrition and diabetes management.

  • Mental Health and Counseling Services
    Offered through hospital systems, community mental health centers, and private practices.

  • Emergency Care
    If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency department.

Key Points to Remember

  • Coronary heart disease is the main cause of heart attacks.
  • Many people in Grand Rapids have no symptoms but still have significant risk.
  • Your doctor can calculate your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 5–10 years using a cardiovascular disease risk score.
  • This risk score helps you and your provider decide on the best steps to reduce your risk, including lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medications.
  • Taking action now—eating well, staying active all year, not smoking, managing stress, and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar—can dramatically lower your risk and improve your quality of life in Grand Rapids, MI.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area, consider scheduling a Heart Health Check with your local provider to learn your risk score and create a personalized plan to protect your heart and brain health.