There are many risk factors for coronary disease and stroke. While some risk factors such ethnicity, gender, genetic, age, family history can’t be changed, other risk factors such as tobacco exposure, high cholesterol, high BP, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, exposure to alcohol, diabetes and unhealthy diets and lifestyle can be controlled.
Here’s the irrefutable logic – more the risk factors for coronary disease you have, greater the chances are for you to develop it. But the good news is; most of the risk factors are controllable. This means; you can actually do something about them to prevent coronary disease.
Yes; there are many risk factors for heart disease and as already briefed, some you can control and others you can’t.
The factors, which can’t be controlled include:
- Gender
- Age
- A family history of heart disease
- Being post-menopausal
Making a few lifestyle changes can however help in reducing the chances of having heart disease.
The controllable risk factors include:
- Smoking
- High cholesterol level
- High blood pressure
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Stress, anger and anxiety
Let’s delve deeper in order to get a detail understanding of the controllable and uncontrollable risk factors
Cardiovascular risk factors
As already briefed some risk factors such as, ethnicity, gender, genetic, age, family history can’t be changed while other risk factors such as tobacco exposure, high cholesterol, high BP, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, exposure to alcohol, diabetes and unhealthy diets and lifestyle can be controlled. You may not develop heart disease if you are exposed to just one factor however the fact is undeniable that, the more risk factors you have, greater is the likelihood for you to develop coronary heart disease.
The controllable risk factors
Take it in writing; Hypertension or high blood pressure is one of the biggest factors for stroke and plays an incredible role in expediting a heart attacks. The good news is; high BP is modifiable. Meaning you can prevent and successfully treat it to prevent heart attack and heart disease. All you have to do is to get your blood pressure checked and if you have high BP then stick to your recommended management plan.
Abnormal level of cholesterol (high LDL, high levels of triglycerides, low levels of HDL,) increase your chance of a heart attack or stroke. Switching to a healthy diet, moderate exercise and sticking to medication can help in reducing your blood lipid profile.
Exposure to tobacco (whether it’s smoking or chewing tobacco) has the potential to increase the risks of stroke and cardiovascular disease. The fact of the matter is; the risk is even higher if you have started smoking at a very young age, if you are a chain smoker or a woman. It won’t be out of context to mention here that passive smoking also increases the risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Reducing your tobacco exposure can also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
A sedentary lifestyle or more precisely physical inactivity may increase the risk of stroke and heart disease by 50%. Any amount of exercise is better than staying inactive however for complete heart health the AHA – American Heart Association recommends – Daily 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise. Rely on Heart Friendly Exercises for Cardio Vascular Wellness
Obesity on the other hand predisposes you to diabetes, which stands as a potent risk factor for stroke and heart disease. For the uninitiated; Type 2 diabetes makes you susceptible to coronary disease. To put simply; if you do not control diabetes then you are more likely to develop heart disease. If in case you are a pre-menopausal woman and if you are diabetic then your diabetes cancels out the estrogen protection while increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke to a significant level.
On the other hand; a diet rich in high and saturated fat increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.
No matter wherever you are in the globe but a stressful life, anxiety, social isolation and depression increase the risk of coronary disease and stroke.
While just one alcohol drink a day may lead to a 30% reduction in heart disease, however increasing this level may damage the heart muscle.
The uncontrollable risk factors
Getting old in other words, aging stands as a potent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Believe it or not; the risk of coronary attack and stroke in fact doubles after age 55.
Your genetics and family history also play quite significant roles in increasing the chance of coronary disease and stroke. If in case your first-degree blood relative has had heart disease before the age of 55 (for male) or 65 (for female) your risk of developing coronary disease increases.
Yes; gender matters when it comes to the point of evaluating the risk of coronary disease. A man is at a greater risk of heart disease than a pre-menopausal woman. On the other hand; the risk for coronary heart disease increases in menopausal woman.
Your ethnicity also plays a staggering role in developing cardiovascular disease. For instance; people with African or Asian ancestry are at higher risks of developing cardiovascular disease than others.
Healthy lifestyle keeps your heart healthy. Recent research data demonstrates heart healthy lifestyle can reduce the threats and risks of heart disease by 80%.
For complete heart health, talk to the heart specialist in Kolkata and get regular checkups done. Take the doctor’s guidance to set realistic goals to keep your heart healthy.