Heart diseases make up for the most common medical conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. It is essential to understand the risks associated with heart disease and how you can combat them for a healthy life. Many factors pose a greater risk of heart diseases in one individual than in the other.
There are also some common conditions such as hypertension and high cholesterol that, if left untreated, can have drastic consequences such as a stroke or a heart attack.
This blog will understand the factors that increase a person’s risk of heart diseases and avoid them for longer and healthy lives.
Let’s get going!
Uncontrollable risk factors of heart diseases are those factors that are beyond human control. However, being aware of these factors can help you become proactive in maintaining good heart health.
These uncontrollable risk factors include;
A person’s risk of heart disease increases as they get older. Men who are 45+ and 55+ women generally have a greater risk of acquiring a heart-related condition.
An individual is at a greater risk of acquiring heart disease if they have a direct blood-related family member who had heart disease at an early age.
The risk of heart disease varies with the gender of a person as well. For example, estrogen protects against heart disease for women, but diabetes raises this risk significantly for women more than men.
While these factors cannot be controlled, one can be proactive and compensate them with a routine dedicated to health.
Let us now see the risk factors that are controllable and responsible for a majority of heart-related diseases.
One common cause of heart disease is high blood pressure. High BP puts excessive pressure on the heart muscles, capillaries, and other organs, thereby reducing their life.
To avoid this and other risks for a healthy heart, it is recommended that you get your blood pressure checked at least once per year or more often if you have high blood pressure.
High cholesterol levels can clog your arteries and raise your risk of heart disease if not treated properly. Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood produced by the liver’s breakdown of food. High levels of Triglycerides may also lead to heart diseases, especially in women.
Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and make you gain weight – both of which increase the likelihood of heart disease. As a general rule of thumb, men should stay below two alcoholic drinks per day, and women just one.
Smoking can lead to heart disease, and it is best for your overall health to stop smoking. If you are not a smoker, do not start. If you currently smoke cigarettes, quitting will lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. We strongly recommend that you quit. You can also talk to your healthcare provider to devise the best way for you to quit and live a longer, healthier life.
Stress is one of the primary reasons for heart diseases. Hyper-stress can quickly shoot up your blood pressure, and extreme stress can even be a “trigger” for a cardiac arrest. Many of us cope with stress in different ways like overeating, overconsumption of alcohol, and smoking. These, in turn, hurt our heart’s health even more.
It is highly recommended that you practice de-stressing exercises and routines like listening to music, not overthinking something, eating healthier, and working out regularly.
If you are constantly over-stressed, we recommend that you consult an expert physician.
We all wish to live a longer and healthier life to spend more time with our loved ones. And it begins with a healthy heart.
Keep the pointers mentioned above in mind. If you find yourself worried about your cardiovascular health, contact the ASIAN Hospital at anytime.
Cheers to your health 🙂