Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Stroke - 4,400,000
Cardiovascular diseases:
Claimed 959,227 lives in 1996. Other 1996 mortality: total cancer 544,728; accidents 93,874; HIV (AIDS) 32,655. One sixth of all people killed by CVD are under age 65. From 1985 to 1995 death rates from CVD declined 22%. In the same 10-year period the actual number of deaths declined only 2.0 percent.
Warning signs:
Uncomfortable heavy feeling, pressure, pain or squeezing in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes. Pain that goes to your shoulders, neck or arms. Discomfort in your chest along with a light head, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
Risk Factors
Family history Smoking Hyperlipidemia Hypertension Obesity Inactive Lifestyle Diabetes
Your FAMILY HISTORY may increase your risk if. . . Your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55 OR your mother or sister had one before age 65.
SMOKING CESSATION
Approximately 48 million Americans currently smoke cigarettes, but most smokers are either actively trying to quit or want to quit. Since 1965, more than 40% of all adults who have ever smoked have quit. After 1 year off cigarettes, the excess risk of heart disease caused by smoking is reduced by half. After 15 years of abstinence, the risk is similar to that of persons who have never smokes. In 5 to 15 years, the risk of stroke for ex-smokers returns to the level of those who have never smokes.
Male smokers who quit between 35 to 39 add an average of 5 years to their lives. Female quitters in this age group add 3 years. Men and women who quit at ages 65 to 69 increase their life expectancy by 1 year.
Blood pressure of less than 140 over 90 is considered a normal blood pressure reading for adults.
Obesity is now recognized as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack.
OBESITY:
raises blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
lowers HDL (the good cholesterol linked with lower risk). raises blood pressure. can induce diabetes. In some people, diabetes has a strongly adverse effect on these risk factors. In them, the resulting danger of heart attack is especially high.
DIABETES MELLITUS
Diabetes mellitus killed 61,559 Americans in 1996. 10,060,000 Americans have diabetes (about 4.6 million males and 5.5 million females). 625,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed every year.
Diabetes mellitus is the inability of the body to produce or respond to insulin properly. Insulin allows the body to use glucose (sugar).
Diabetes is a major risk factor for stroke and is now recognized as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack.
Exercise.
Keep your weight in the normal range. Follow your doctors orders for taking medicine. See your doctor for regular checkups. Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.