Heart disease is any medical condition that affects the heart. There are many types of it, some of which can be prevented. Unlike a cardiovascular disease, which involves problems throughout the circulatory system, heart disease affects only the heart.
For many years, heart disease has claimed the first spot as
the leading cause of death in the United States; according to the Centres for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), About 1 in 4 deaths in the United States
is due to heart disease, which affects all genders and all races and ethnic
groups.
Here are 10 key factors that can help you reduce your heart
attack and stroke risk if you have never had one.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the
United States, accounting for 34% of deaths, many of them sudden and premature.
This is down from 40% just 40 years ago, mainly due to the treatment of common
risk factors. If you have diabetes, your risk is multiplied. The best strategy
against heart disease and stroke is understanding the risks and treatment
options. The greatest risk is ignorance or being uninformed. The first step,
then, is to take responsibility for your health.
2. Know your Risk
The most important risk factor for heart disease is age: the
older you are the higher your risk. The second is your genetic makeup. Although
everyone is excited about scientific progress in genomic research, genetic
testing is still inconclusive because it is in its infancy. We have long
understood that your risk is much higher if your parents, grandparents, or
other relatives were afflicted with or died of heart disease, diabetes, or
stroke.
3. Quit Smoking
There is ample evidence that cigarette smoking and exposure
to second-hand smoke increase the risk of heart disease, peripheral vascular
disease, stroke & lung disease.
4. Control High Blood Pressure
Often considered a "silent killer," hypertension
or high blood pressure does not appear immediately in most people. Hypertension
causes wear and tear on the delicate inner lining of blood vessels. The higher
the blood pressure (BP), the greater the risk.
The risk increases from a pressure of 115/70 mmHg and
doubles for every 10 mmHg increase in systolic pressure (the larger number) and
5 mmHg increase in diastolic (the smaller number). Heredity and increasing age
increase the risks. Checking blood pressure at home may be a better gauge for
measuring blood pressure than at the doctor's office. A blood pressure monitor
is a good investment in your health.
It is best not to rely solely on blood pressure readings at
your doctor's office as some people suffer from "white coat"
hypertension - that is, their blood pressure is only high when they are in the
doctor's office. Others have "hidden" hypertension as it is usually
higher when out of the office. The prognosis is better about measuring blood
pressure at home. However, it is important that you only measure blood pressure
in the upper arm as fingers or wrists will not give you an accurate reading.
5. Control Your Cholesterol Level
Abnormal or elevated blood lipids (fats) are a major
contributor to cardiovascular disease. Your blood lipids include LDL (bad)
cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglycerides. The lower the LDL in
your blood and the higher the HDL level, the better your diagnosis.
Three main factors determine cholesterol levels in your
blood. The amount produced by the liver and the amount absorbed by the
intestinal tract (depending on your diet). It is also made up of things
produced by the liver and excreted in the digestive tract (and eventually, your
cholesterol level increases with age). Medication is almost always necessary to
lower LDL levels or increase HDL levels if there is a risk.
The ideal ratio of cholesterol to HDL cholesterol is 3.0. If
it is more than that, you may need food as treatment. The main problem is that
diet alone can only lower total blood cholesterol by about 10%. If you have a
strong family history of high Lp (a) (rare abnormal cholesterol that increases
your risk), this usually happens when drug therapy is needed.
6. Limit Calories
Fad diets don't work. We'd all be on it if any of them did,
wouldn't we? The obesity rate among Americans is alarming and contributes to
what could almost be an epidemic of diabetes, which is a cardiovascular disease. If
you already have diabetes, your risk is the same as someone who has already had
a heart attack. Obesity is caused by your body consuming more calories in a
day.
Accumulation of belly fat is the biggest risk. The portion
size and sugar content in the American diet has increased dramatically. In
addition, the daily amount of workout activities is decreasing. It is advisable
to "drink thin" (water, tea, coffee). Control the portions before
eating and get up from the table before feeling "complete."
7. Exercise Regularly
Lack of exercise is leading to a dramatic increase in
obesity among Americans. Research has shown that walking two miles a day is
good for overall health, and not necessarily walking two miles at a time.
Exercise is more beneficial than just burning calories. It
also activates genes that are beneficial for health in other ways. In addition,
training is one of the best treatments for depression and anxiety. However,
exercising alone cannot control or reduce your weight - you must also modify your
diet.
8. Choose Your Medicine Wisely
There is a great interest in alternative medicine, and
understandably so, as patients want to take responsibility for their health.
However, many take alternative drugs because of the way they are marketed. The
fact that a substance is "natural" does not prove its health benefit.
However, no one will take arsenic in the right state of mind
because it is "natural." It is also important to know that research
data often lacks alternative medicines, supplements, and vitamins, none of
which are regulated by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
Do we ever prescribe alternative medicines? Sometimes we do!
The biggest risk with many alternative medications is that the patient thinks
they are doing something to improve health when in fact, it is not the fact.
Although some vitamins may help in some situations, such as fish oils and
niacin (vitamin B) ،, none have been shown to reduce the risk
of heart disease.
It is also important to keep in mind that high doses of some
vitamins can interfere with or counteract the beneficial effects of some
prescription drugs.
9. Reduce Stress
Stress can lead to heart disease and, if severe, can lead to
a heart attack or sudden death. Several options help reduce stress, such as
regular exercise, getting enough sleep, a good relationship with your partner,
laughing, volunteering, or attending religious services. Watching television is
generally not a good way to relax and may even aggravate stress. Also, try to
avoid situations and people that make you anxious or angry.
10. Stay Informed
The only constant thing is change, which is especially true
in medicine as new techniques and knowledge are constantly being developed. Do
not believe all the pieces of "scientific information" found in the
media or advertisements.
Many scientific research studies are published but are
poorly designed or contain performance data that are not representative, e.g.,
due to a lack of a sufficient number of participants. Note that many studies
are funded or sponsored by individuals or legal entities with a vested interest
in obtaining favorable results. The situation can be particularly confusing
when scientific studies yield different or contradictory results, which is
often the case.
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