An Assessment Of The Risk Factors That Can Lead to Heart Disease

Heart disease is the biggest killer in the entire world today. It is crucial to be aware of the specific risks that are associated with certain individuals to prevent their occurrence and treat them in the early stages. The present article aims to outline the most significant modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of heart disease.

Genetics and Family History

Of all the risk factors, the most significant one is the prior history of heart disease in families. Prevalence of the disease is 2-4 fold higher in individuals whose first-degree relatives are suffering from heart disease, namely parents or siblings. Genetics are involved by rendering people vulnerable to such factors as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. It means that one can do something to prevent the disease and make changes in one’s lifestyle and even use prescribed medication as a preventive measure if one gets tested and knows the numbers, even if there is a family history.

High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is a condition in which blood pressure is high and this entails the heart to work harder and pump blood frequently. However, it weakens arteries with time. It causes damage to arteries over time. For adults, hypertension is described as a blood pressure reading of 130/80 mm Hg or above. It was further established that the risk of heart attack and stroke greatly increases with every 20/10 mm Hg rise in the starting blood pressure level of 115/75 mm Hg. It can be controlled through changes such as weight loss, exercising and the use of drugs, low-salt diet, and other treatment procedures.

High Cholesterol

High cholesterol disrupts the natural functioning of artery walls by forming plaque deposits. This plaque reduces the internal diameter of the blood vessels through which blood circulates to the heart and brain. This is where the situation of borderline high risk is found if the total cholesterol levels are above 200mg/dL. Concentrations higher than 240 mg/dl are likely to cause significantly higher risk than the set levels. Cholesterol should be monitored through medication, diet and exercises.

Diabetes

Diabetes and heart disease are related conditions in various ways. Even pre diabetes increases risk. Diabetes also weakens the arteries and increases its susceptibility to development of fatty plaques. This also indirectly damages the heart through the decline in the quality of the heart muscle. One must always ensure that the blood sugar level is kept on check. Drugs and non-pharmacologic measures such as diet, exercise, and weight control contributed to enhanced insulin sensitivity and the promotion of cardiovascular health.

Overweight and Obesity

Obesity causes other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes in direct proportion with the levels of body fat. Obesity also puts a lot of pressure on the heart because it becomes forced to act hard in order to pump blood and supply oxygen and nutrients to more body tissue. Each rise in BMI means a higher level of risk. Even a simple thing such as shedding between 10-20 pounds can go quite a long way toward decreasing all sorts of heart disease risks.

Physical Inactivity

Sedentary geste is another independent threat factor associated with increased threat of cardiovascular complaint. It improves cardiovascular health, improves cholesterol, blood pressure, body weight, and controls or prevents diabetes. This study affirms that indeed simple tasks similar as taking a brisk 30 nanosecond walk daily significantly improves heart health.

Smoking and Tobacco Use

Tobacco injures the arteries causing swelling and fatty deposits on the inner lining. It also increases the viscosity of the blood and increases their coaggregation ability. These effects act as precursors to a heart attack and a stroke and greatly increase the chances of experiencing these calamities. In most cases, these risks can be greatly reduced or even eliminated within 1-5 years of quitting through the body’s self-healing mechanisms.

Unhealthy Diet

This is because foods such as those which are processed, salty, sweet, and containing unhealthy fats or oils cause direct harm to the arteries and other risk factors for example cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. The biological implication of adopting vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy oils is that it reduces multiple risk factors and prevents heart diseases.

Excess Alcohol

Regular consumption of alcohol in amounts beyond the recommended daily limit increases blood pressure. It also contains non-sparking or added liquid calories that can make one gain weight.These effects negatively affect the heart. There seems to be some evidence that moderate levels of alcohol are beneficial to the heart but it is clear that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to the heart.

Stress Level

Stress beyond control releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. In the short term this increases heart rates and the capacity to perform activities. However, acute stress is not as unhealthy as chronic stress since it raises blood pressure and blood sugar levels, putting pressure on the heart. It does so directly through increased consumption of calories, decreased physical activity, and smoking. Maintaining a sound emotional health is equivalent to extending care to the heart.

Dangers that are within your purview include the following Dangers that are beyond your control include the following

As much as we are unable to control inherited genes, we are able to control effects of these genes. Here are those key unmodifiable risks and what you can do:Here are those key unmodifiable risks and what you can do:

• Age – Heart disease risks increase with age, particularly after forty five years of age with incidences doubling every decade.
•  Start heart tests at an earlier age than the current recommended, like at the age of forty.
• Sex:Men in particular are more at risk at an early age
• Ladies require echocardiograms sooner, particularly with predictors.
• Ethnic background – sample population ethnic background= African American ethnicity at a higher risk

Make it explicit with your physician about race-related risks

Some of the measures that one can take to reduce the risk include the following

Here’s how to leverage all your modifiable heart disease risk factors:Here’s how to leverage all your modifiable heart disease risk factors:

1. Know Your Numbers

Go get a check-up to know your total cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and even BMI. It helps them establish a base to measure the progress that has been made towards the optimizing of those risks.

2. Improve Your Diet

The second strategy is to take a healthy diet with fruits, fibers, and whole grains to improve heart health. Avoid using foods such as sodium, sugars, processed foods and unhealthy fats frequently. A food diary is useful to enhance clients’ or patients’ self-monitoring.

3. Increase Physical Activity

Begin with increasing the number of exercises you take by doing anything that you like and involves movements of the body. If you want significant and lasting change, then always set achievable goals and when you have made some progress then you should step it up to the next level.

4. Lose Weight

If you fall within the overweight or obese category, getting a healthy weight can dramatically lower your odds. Visit a doctor and, in addition, a dietitian. Lose it slowly employing techniques that are neutral or beneficial in terms of the practices involved; this primarily concerns diet and physical exercise.

5. Stop Smoking

Stop smoking products and all forms of tobacco as well as second hand smoke. This can help prevent heart disease by up to 50% after 1 year of practice in most people. Siobhan: Seek help from friends and family on how to overcome or cope with the urge to eat the wrong foods.

6. Control Health Issues

It is important to discharge those modifiable personal risk factors with your doctor and control them with the use of change in lifestyle and medication if any. Plan to convene frequently to check up on how things are faring.

Catch Issues Early

Comply with the physician instructions recommended based on the manifested risk factors for early screening of any functional abnormalities or obstructions. At initial levels, symptoms may be less noticeable so pay attention to your body. If you have any discomfort, feel fatigued, or have any pain or any other symptom you should report it to the doctor as soon as possible to receive treatment if needed. Top tests to establish and track heart health include: blood pressure measurements, lipid profiles, stress tests, exercise tolerance tests, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, and coronary calcium scan. Consult with your physician to develop the smart prevention testing regimen that could suit your needs to the letter.

The Bottom Line

“This is what you need to know about heart disease,” is a phrase that provides the most important information necessary to make the best of your chances by managing changeable factors. Genetics and family history only inform you where you must be most careful by eradicating all the other risk factors that make for flawless heart health and long life.