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WHAT ARE THE HEART DISEASE RISK
FACTORS THAT I CANNOT CHANGE?
1. AGE.
2. GENDER.
3. RACE OR ETHNICITY.
4. FAMILY HISTORY.
WHAT ARE THE HEART DISEASE RISK
FACTORS THAT I CANNOT CHANGE?
1. AGE. Your risk of heart disease increases as you get older. Men age 45 and older and women age 55 and
older have a greater risk.
2. GENDER. Some risk factors may affect heart disease risk differently in women than in men. For example,
estrogen provides women some protection against heart disease, but diabetes raises the risk of heart
disease more in women than in men.
3. RACE OR ETHNICITY. Certain groups have higher risks than others. African Americans are more
likely than whites to have heart disease, while Hispanic Americans are less likely to have it. Some Asian
groups, such as East Asians, have lower rates, but south Asians have higher rates.
4. FAMILY HISTORY. You have a greater risk if you have a close family member who had heart disease at
an early age.
COMMON TYPES OF HEART DISEASE
CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease
(CAD). CAD develops over time due to the build up of cholesterol-containing deposits or plaques build up narrowing the coronary
arteries. This is also known as atherosclerosis. This can eventually weaken the heart muscle, causing heart failure or an arrhythmia. CAD
often goes undetected until it produces a heart attack.
HEART FAILURE
Heart failure is a serious condition in which the heart does not pump well enough to meet the body’s demand for oxygen. Heart failure
can result from a damaged or weakened left ventricle (known as systolic dysfunction) or a stiff ventricle (known as diastolic
dysfunction).
WHAT CAN I DO TO LOWER MY RISK OF
HEART DISEASE?
CONTROL YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
KEEP YOUR CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS UNDER CONTROL.
EAT A HEALTHY DIET
STAY AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT.
GET REGULAR EXERCISE.
LIMIT ALCOHOL
DON'T SMOKE
MANAGE STRESS
MANAGE DIABETES
MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET ENOUGH SLEEP
CONTROL YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
• Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. It
means your blood pressure is always too high. High blood
pressure is serious.
• If you ignore it, it can lead to heart and circulatory diseases like
heart attack or stroke.
• It can also cause kidney failure, heart failure and problems
with
your sight. High blood pressure means that your heart has to
work harder to pump blood around your body, so the pressure is
always higher than it should be
KEEP YOUR CHOLESTEROL AND
TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS UNDER
CONTROL
• Cholesterol is a fatty substance in our blood, which is
produced naturally in the liver. Everyone has cholesterol.
We need it to stay healthy because every cell in our body
uses it. Some of this cholesterol comes from the food that
we eat.
STAY AT A HEALTHY
WEIGHT.
WHY IS WEIGHT IMPORTANT?
Being overweight can lead to other conditions that also increase your risk of heart and
circulatory diseases.
High blood pressure: By carrying extra weight and having more body fat, your heart has to work
harder to move blood around your body, increasing your blood pressure. This puts strain on your
heart and arteries and can damage them, increasing your chances of a heart attack or stroke.
High cholesterol: Being overweight means you are more likely to have high cholesterol, which can
clog up your arteries and damage them, increasing your risk of heart and circulatory diseases.
Diabetes: Being overweight increases your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. Studies show
that fat around your middle releases chemicals that make your body less sensitive to insulin.
Insulin regulates your blood glucose levels. Being less sensitive to insulin will cause your blood
sugar to rise.
FIND OUT YOUR BMI
GET REGULAR EXERCISE
• DON'T SMOKE. Cigarette smoking raises your blood pressure and puts you at higher risk for
heart attack and stroke. If you do not smoke, do not start. If you do smoke, quitting will
lower your risk for heart disease. You can talk with your health care provider for help in
finding the best way for you to quit.
• MANAGE STRESS. Stress is linked to heart disease in many ways. It can raise your blood
pressure. Extreme stress can be a "trigger" for a heart attack. Also, some common ways of
coping with stress, such as overeating, heavy drinking, and smoking, are bad for your heart.
Some ways to help manage your stress include exercise, listening to music, focusing on
something calm or peaceful, and meditating.
• MANAGE DIABETES. Having diabetes doubles your risk of diabetic heart disease. That is because over
time, high blood sugar from diabetes can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control your
heart and blood vessels. So, it is important to get tested for diabetes, and if you have it, to keep it under
control.
• MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET ENOUGH SLEEP. If you don't get enough sleep, you raise your risk of high
blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Those three things can raise your risk for heart disease. Most adults
need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Make sure that you have good sleep habits. If you have frequent
sleep problems, contact your health care provider. One problem, sleep apnea, causes people to briefly
stop breathing many times during sleep. This interferes with your ability to get a good rest and can raise
your risk of heart disease. If you think you might have it, ask your doctor about having a sleep study. And if
you do have sleep apnea, make sure that you get treatment for it.