Risk Factors for Heart Diseases
Table of Contents
Risk Factors for heart diseases
Smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. It causes blockages in the arteries and can lead to high blood pressure, which can both lead to heart attacks or strokes.
Obesity
When your body mass index (BMI) is over 30, you are considered obese. Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease and high blood pressure as well as diabetes, cancer and arthritis. It may also increase the risk of stroke.
In addition to being overweight or obese, people who have a genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes may be at increased risk if they have excess fat around their abdomen (a condition called central obesity). This type of excess fat can cause insulin resistance–the body’s decreased ability to respond properly to insulin–which is linked to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Physical inactivity
Physical inactivity is a risk factor for heart disease. It’s also one of the easiest to change, and can help lower your risk of heart disease.
Examples of physical activity include: walking, running and jogging; cycling; swimming; dancing; gardening/yard work; housework (vacuuming and sweeping); heavy lifting (carrying groceries, moving furniture).
High blood pressure
High blood pressure is when the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is too high. It can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney failure if left untreated. The risk factors for high blood pressure include age (it’s more common in older people), gender (men are more likely to have it than women), family history (if your parents or grandparents had high blood pressure), race (African Americans are more likely than whites or Hispanics to develop high blood pressure), diet (a diet rich in sodium and low in potassium may increase risk) and alcohol use (drinking excessively increases risk).
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin. It can cause serious health problems if left untreated. The most common form of diabetes, type 2 diabetes, usually occurs in adulthood and is linked with obesity and family history.
Diabetes can be treated but not cured; you’ll always need to manage your condition by following a healthy lifestyle and taking prescribed medications as advised by your doctor.
The causes of diabetes are complex – they involve genes and lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise levels and smoking status (or passive smoking).
Stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety are linked to heart problems. Stress can be caused by work, family, money and other issues. It can lead to heart attacks, high blood pressure and heart disease. Stress also causes other health problems such as gastrointestinal disorders (such as irritable bowel syndrome), headache or migraine and sleep disturbance.
Take care of your heart
-
-
- Don’t smoke.
- Don’t drink too much alcohol.
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, but not too much that it becomes an obsession or takes away from your life in other ways (such as missing out on a night out with friends).
- Get enough sleep every night, even if you don’t feel like it! It’s important to take care of yourself so that you can be there for others when they need you most–and this includes giving yourself time each day where nothing else matters besides rest and relaxation!
Heart disease is a serious condition that can lead to death. In order to prevent heart disease, you should be aware of your risk factors and take steps to reduce them. If you smoke or are overweight, try quitting these habits today!
-
For More Information
Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information on the subject.
