High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and coronary artery disease are all possible forms of cardiovascular disease.
High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, heart rhythm problems, and coronary artery disease are all possible forms of cardiovascular disease. The World Health Organization states that cardiovascular disease is responsible for more than 17,000,000 deaths each year around the world and half of all deaths in America.
Coronary artery disease is America's leading cause of death. It is the most common type of cardiovascular disease. The second leading cause of death is cancer, which accounts for just over half the deaths.
More than 80 million Americans suffer from some type of cardiovascular disease in the United States. Researchers have discovered certain factors that can increase the risk of heart disease. This is thanks to a number of studies that involved thousands of patients. These are known as risk factors.
There are two types of risk factors: major and contributory. It has been shown that major risk factors can increase your risk of developing heart disease. An increase in risk factors for heart disease can result from other risk factors.
Your risk factors are more likely to lead you to heart disease. Some risk factors are easily modified, treated or removed. You can lower your risk of developing heart disease by reducing your risk factors through lifestyle changes, medication, or both.
Major Risk Factors
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Your risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease increases if you have high blood pressure. Your risk of stroke or heart disease increases if you're overweight, a smoker, or have high levels of blood cholesterol.
Although blood pressure levels can fluctuate depending on activity and age, a normal reading for an adult with healthy eyes should be 120/80.
High blood cholesterol. This is one of the most important risk factors for developing heart disease. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in your blood and in all your cells. The liver makes all the cholesterol that your body needs to create cell membranes and make certain hormones. When you eat animal products (meat, eggs, and dairy), or high in saturated fat, your body absorbs extra cholesterol.
Plaque can form on the walls of the arteries when there is too much low-density cholesterol (or "bad cholesterol") in your blood. This causes atherosclerosis, a condition that damages the arteries. Plaque that builds up in the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood is a sign of a more serious condition called atherosclerosis.
Diabetes. Heart problems are the leading cause of death among people with diabetes, especially in the case of adult-onset or Type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes). Certain races and ethnicities (African Americans and Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and Native Americans) are at greater risk for developing diabetes. According to the American Heart Association, 65% of diabetes patients die from some type of cardiovascular disease. You should be seeing a doctor if you suspect you may have diabetes. Good blood sugar control can help reduce your risk. You should consult your doctor if you suspect you might have diabetes.
Obesity, overweight, and high blood cholesterol are all risk factors for developing heart disease.
Doctors use body mass index (BMI) to measure obesity. This is the formula of kilograms divided by height in meters squared (BMI =W[kg]/H[m 2]). According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, overweight refers to a BMI greater than 25. Obese people are those with a BMI over 30. Use the calculator below to calculate your BMI. Next, calculate your BMI using the calculator below.
Smoking. Many people know that smoking cigarettes or tobacco cigarettes increases your chance of developing lung cancer. However, few people realize that it can also increase the risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (diseases in the blood vessels that supply blood to the legs and arms). The American Heart Association estimates that more than 480,000 Americans are affected by smoking-related diseases each year. These deaths are often due to the effects of smoking, which can cause damage to the blood vessels and heart.
Smoking can increase heart rate, tighten major arteries and cause irregular heartbeat timings. All of these factors make it harder for your heart to work. Another risk factor is high blood pressure. While nicotine is the most active ingredient in cigarettes, there are many other chemicals and compounds that can be harmful to your heart.
Inactivity. People who do not exercise regularly are at greater risk for heart attack. Exercise helps you lose weight and control your cholesterol and blood pressure. Exercise strengthens the heart muscle, and makes the arteries flexible. People who exercise regularly and burn between 500- 3500 calories per day can expect to live longer than those who don't exercise. Regular exercise, even of moderate intensity, can be beneficial.
Gender. Men are more likely to have a heart attack than women. The difference becomes less pronounced after women reach menopause. The risk of developing heart disease after the age 65 is the same for both sexes, even if other risk factors are the same. Heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases are more common in women than in men.
Genetics. Heart disease tends not to run in the family. If your family history includes a history of heart disease, such as a parent or sibling who had a problem with their heart or circulatory system before the age of 55, you may be at higher risk than someone without that history. High blood pressure, diabetes and obesity risk factors can also be passed down from one generation to the next.
Certain forms of cardiovascular disease are more prevalent in certain races and ethnicities. Studies have shown that African Americans are more likely to develop heart disease and have higher blood pressure than Caucasians.
Age. An older age is a risk factor to heart disease. About 4 out of 5 heart disease deaths occur in those over 65. Our hearts become less efficient as we age. The walls of the heart may become thicker and the arteries may harden. This makes the heart less capable of pumping blood to the muscles. These changes increase the risk of developing heart disease with age. Women are generally protected against heart disease due to their sex hormones until they reach menopause when their risk increases.
Contributing Risk Factors
Stress. It is a risk factor for developing heart disease. Still being investigated are the effects of emotional stress, behavioral habits and socioeconomic status on heart disease and heart attack risk.
Research has identified many reasons stress could affect your heart.
Stressful situations can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. This will cause your heart to need more oxygen. Angina (chest pain) and ischemia can result from this increased oxygen demand.
Stress can cause the release of extra hormones, most commonly adrenaline. These hormones can cause blood pressure to rise, which can lead to damage to the arteries. The walls of the arteries may become thicker or harder as the healing process progresses, which makes it easier for plaque buildup.
Stress can also increase the blood clotting factors in your blood. This makes it more likely that you will develop a clot. Plaque can block an artery and cause a heart attack by blocking it.
Other risk factors may also be affected by stress. Stress can lead to other risk factors, such as people who overeat or start smoking.
Sexual hormones. Sexual hormones may play a part in heart disease. Heart disease is uncommon among women under 40. The chances of a woman suffering a heart attack increase between the ages of 40 and 65. This is around the time most women experience menopause. Women account for about half of all heart attacks victims after age 65.
Birth Control Pills. The first birth control pills had high levels of estrogen. These pills were known to increase the risk of stroke and heart disease in older women, particularly if they contained progestin and estrogen. Birth control pills are safer for women under 35 who don't smoke or have high blood pressure.
Birth control pills can increase your risk of developing heart disease or blood clots if you smoke, or if you have other risk factors. The American Heart Association recommends that women who use birth control pills have annual check-ups to test their blood pressure, triglyceride and glucose levels.
Alcohol. Studies show that people who consume moderate amounts are less likely to develop heart disease than those who don't drink. Experts suggest that moderate consumption is one to two drinks per person per day for men, and one drink per woman per day for women. One drink is 1 1/2 ounces (fl. oz) 80-proof spirits and 1 fl. oz 100-proof spirits. It also includes 4 fl. oz wine or 12 fl. oz beer. However, drinking more alcohol than recommended can lead to heart problems like high blood pressure, stroke, irregular heartbeats and cardiomyopathy (disease affecting the heart muscle). The body may be at greater risk for heart disease if alcohol calories are added to it. It is not recommended for non-drinkers to start drinking alcohol, or to increase their consumption.
It's never too late or too early to improve your heart health. While some risk factors are easily controlled, others are not. You can reduce your risk of developing heart disease by removing risk factors you can control and managing risk factors you cannot.
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