By Dr Ritesh Kohli, MD
The biggest risk does not know the risk
You can develop heart disease if you don’t manage your heart health and other risk factors. Heart disease can cause chest pain, stroke or even a heart attack. Sadly, heart disease is quite common in Guyana. The good news is that many of the risk factors for heart disease can be managed. That’s why it’s important to know which risk factors you might have.
Your risk factors for heart disease
A risk factor is anything that can raise your chance of developing heart disease. Some risk factors you can’t change are age, family history, race and gender. But there are many risk factors that you can change, like not managing your weight or being overweight, lack of exercise, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.
The more risk factors you have, the greater are your chances of developing heart disease. As said above, this can lead to a heart attack or stroke. That’s why it’s so important to learn what you can do to lower your risk. The sooner you do, the sooner you can start on the road to a healthier heart.
Risk factors you can manage
There are some risk factors you cannot change. But you can manage many of them. Know your risk factors. It is an important step towards lowering your risk for heart disease. Find out from your health care provider what you can do. You may be able to reduce your risk factors. This can be through lifestyle changes, medicine or both. Every 33 seconds somebody has a heart attack – a point worth remembering!
Overweight? You’re not alone
Close to 70% of all American adults are overweight, which is a problem. Being overweight can put you at greater risk of heart disease. And it can be a cause of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. The fact is, being very overweight can mean you’re taking at least five years off your life.
The good news is keeping your weight at a healthy level can help relieve stress on your heart. It can also help to reduce your risk of other disease or conditions. So talk to your doctor. Learn what you need to do to control your weight.
Lack of exercise: A common problem
Lack of physical activity can pose a risk to your health. That’s why being active can help to reduce your chance of heart disease. It can also slow the onset or progression of other risk factors. But be sure to talk to your doctor before you start any new exercise routine.
High cholesterol:
one of the biggest culprits
If you have high cholesterol, and you’re not doing anything to lower it you could be at risk. People with high cholesterol are more than twice as likely to have heart disease. You’re at even greater risk if someone in your immediate family has heart disease.
Many people think diet and exercise are all it takes to lower their cholesterol. But that’s not true. That’s because high cholesterol can be in your genes. Only about 20% of your cholesterol comes from food. The rest is made by your body.
People with high cholesterol are
twice as likely to suffer a heart attack
Fortunately, cholesterol is a risk factor you can manage. If you have high cholesterol, talk to your health care provider. In some cases, a prescription medicine may be necessary, in addition to a low-fat diet and exercise. Ask your health care provider if the medication is right for you.
High blood pressure: a silent disease
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. Often, there are no signs or symptoms of high blood pressure. In fact, almost one out of three people with high blood pressure are unaware of it. But if it is not treated, it can damage your heart and other organs.
Lowering your blood pressure could prevent a heart attack or even a stroke. That’s why it’s so important to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your health care provider may prescribe diet and exercise and often medication. By doing things to lower your blood pressure, you’re taking steps to reduce your risk for heart disease.
Diabetes: Hand in hand with
heart disease.
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not make or properly use insulin. Insulin is made by your body to control the amount of sugar in your blood. Diabetes can put you at serious risk for heart disease. And it can lead to other health problems. This includes blindness or kidney failure.
Diabetes can sometimes be controlled by eating carefully and by being physically active every day. You may need medication if your blood sugar can’t be lowered to a normal level with diet and exercise alone.
Smoking: Riskier than you may think
That’s because smoking can cause a number of serious health problems. This includes lung cancer, heart attack and stroke. In fact, cigarette smoking increases your risk of dying from heart disease two to four times. The good news is that by quitting smoking you can greatly reduce your risk. After quitting for only one year, your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker’s. There are many treatments to help people quit smoking. Talk to your doctor to find one that is right for you.
Risk factors you cannot change or treat
Gender and increasing age – After age 45, men have a much higher chance of developing heart disease. For women, the same is true after age 55.
Race and ethnicity
Race can also play a role in your risk of developing heart disease. For example, African Americans and Hispanics have a greater risk of high blood pressure than Caucasians. And they are at a greater risk of heart disease in general.
Family history
Heart disease can run in your family. So, if you have a brother, sister, parent or grandparent who had heart disease, then you might be at a higher risk of developing heart disease.
The more risk factors you
have, the greater your risk
Your risk of heart disease rises if you have more than one risk factor. For example, if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, you have a 6.2 times greater chance of developing heart disease, than if you have one of these risk factors.
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE HEART. THE WAY TO A HEALTHIER HEART BEGINS NOW.
