Risky Business: New Survey Suggests Many Americans Live Dangerously, Even When They Say They Aren't 'Ri...( - 60 percent say they are not risk...)

- 60 percent say they are not risk takers with their health, yet up to

one-third of those skip critical health screenings - 42 percent are at elevated risk for cardiovascular events, yet 20 percent of those have not spoken with their physician about preventive benefits of

regular low-dose aspirin

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey of men and women age 40 and older in the United States reveals a significant gap between people's desire to avoid taking risks with their health, and the percentage who knowingly skip critical health screenings. Overall, 60 percent indicated they weren't risk takers with their health. Yet, 25 percent of those who think they play it safe admitted to skipping routine mammograms or prostate cancer screenings, with 30 percent skipping colonoscopies and other screenings after the age of 50.

When it comes to the nation's number one killer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), as many as 42 percent of those surveyed were determined to be at elevated CVD risk using a formula that is based in part on the Framingham Risk Calculator*. If this survey outcome were to be applied to the total populations of men over 40 and women over 50 it could mean that as many as 47.8 million people are at elevated CVD risk**. Among those at elevated risk, as many as one in five have not spoken to their physicians about the preventive benefits of low-dose aspirin therapy.

"Knowing your cardiovascular risk and taking appropriate steps to lower it can decrease the number of heart attacks and strokes suffered in this country every year," said Dr. Nieca Goldberg, clinical associate professor of medicine and medical director of New York University's Women's Heart Program and author of Dr. Nieca Goldberg's Complete Guide to Women's Health. "Patients need to talk to their doctor about proven simple prevention strategies, like taking daily low-dose aspirin, diet and exercise. If more at-risk
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