With age, blood vessels get less flexible and fat plaque may build up on the walls of arteries. These changes may restrict the flow of blood to the heart. As per the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, cardiovascular disease ranks as the leading cause of death among Americans.
While aging is the most significant danger factor, there are other variables that may also contribute with poor diet and exercise, uncontrolled blood pressure and smoking and diabetes. There are ways you can lower the risk.
Strategies to reduce the risk of developing heart disease
In order to prevent heart disease, you must focus on four key areas: smoking, diet, exercising and weight. Implementing healthy habits is the key to decreasing your risk today and in the near future. Think about these lifestyle changes:
Smoke, cut down
People who smoke are between two and four times more likely to suffer from heart disease. Smoking cigarettes can cause damage to the lining of arteries, which can lead to plaque buildup or atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can be found within the coronary artery (coronary heart disease) or in the legs (peripheral coronary artery disease). Coronary heart disease may cause chest pain, heart attacks, arrhythmias, and heart failure.
Keep a healthy eating plan
Incorporate a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, dairy, low-fat skinless poultry, fish and legumes, as well as healthy cooking oils. The Mediterranean food plan can be a great guide. Cut down on sodium, saturated fats, red meat (though smaller cuts of meat are fine occasionally), and sweets.
At minimum 150 minutes moderate physical exercise each week. This could be as simple as brisk walking or water aerobics as well as gardening. If you’re short on time try to get 75 minutes of intense activity. Think about activities such as cycling, swimming, running at speeds of 10 mph or more, and upward hiking.
Maintain an appropriate weight. Following those three good lifestyle supplements listed above will reduce the risk of weight increase. Consult your doctor about any other issues that might affect the numbers that you see on your scale.
Additional life-threatening risks
Hypertension (high blood pressure) as well as diabetes are important factors in heart risk. The former causes your heart to perform harder, as it increases the amount of work required by the heart, which can lead to a shrinking of blood vessels and blockages of the arteries. As long as your heart is forced to work as it gets bigger, the harder it gets to cope with the demand. Although this might sound good, the reality is that your heart is less effective at pumping blood. In other words, your body will have a tougher time producing sufficient energy and oxygen.
In the case of diabetes, high blood sugar can harm the blood vessels and nerves. The longer you’re suffering from diabetes, the greater the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease.
Medicines that reduce risk
“Bad” cholesterol, also known as sallow-density lipoprotein” (LDL), is the primary cause of plaque formation, which causes atherosclerosis. The ideal level of LDL depends on your risk of stroke or heart attack. Healthcare professionals can calculate this by using an on-line tool, which takes into account cholesterol levels, age and race, sex as well as smoking habits, blood pressure and a previous history of diabetes. To determine the risk of heart disease you are estimating using the American College of Cardiology’s ASCVD Risk Estimator.
The majority of people should keep their LDL count lower than 130. Anyone who has had an attack on their heart should strive for a lower number than 100. Persons who are considered extremely high risk should aim to keep their risk under 70.
Based on the risk you face You may receive a statin in order to reduce your cholesterol. They stop cholesterol’s production by stopping an enzyme responsible for creating it. They also assist your body to remove cholesterol that it has already taken in. They’ve been proven to lower the risk of having a heart attack by 36% and the risk of death due to a cardiac event by 31 percent.
If you’ve had a documented blood vessel event, such as a blockage, peripheral arterial condition, heart attack and strokes, are a recipient of heart stents, taking aspirin at a low dose daily could aid in preventing another. It is a great way to prevent blood clots to stop forming which is a primary issue if you have atherosclerosis. Make sure you get permission from your physician prior to taking aspirin, as it reduces blood flow and could be a contraindication for certain ailments.
See your doctor
Scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician on a regular basis is a great way to avoid heart issues. Primary care physicians can assist you in controlling your blood pressure, diabetes, weight reduction, and quitting smoking cigarettes. You can always be referred to a cardiologist when needed.
Be on the lookout for signs
Find out what to look for when identifying the signs of coronary distress before you or someone you love is struck by a cardiac event. The most common signs to be concerned about are shoulder, chest or jaw pain, or pressure from any activity, for example, taking a walk up a flight steps or exercising breathing problems; shortness of breath; heart palpitations, or a more rapid heartbeat; dizziness or weakness; or indigestion. Also, your primary healthcare doctor should be your first contact, unless you’re having an emergency, then dial 911.
If you are more active in taking care of heart disease risk, there is a higher chance you will not be faced with a heart situation in the future.
