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For more information on the Presbyterian Center for Preventive Cardiology,
click
here or call (704) 384-5043.
The American Heart Association has identified Six
Key Risk Factors people can treat or modify to reduce their risk of
a heart attack. Addressing these risk factors can have immediate benefits
to your overall health and well being.
- Tobacco smoke
Smokers' risk of heart attack is more than twice that of nonsmokers.
Cigarette smoking is the biggest risk factor for sudden cardiac death.
Smokers have two to four times the risk of nonsmokers. Smokers who have
a heart attack also are more likely to die and die suddenly (within
an hour). Cigarette smoking also acts with other risk factors to greatly
increase the risk for coronary heart disease. People who smoke cigars
or pipes seem to have a higher risk of death from coronary heart disease
(and possibly stroke) but their risk isn't as great as cigarette smokers'.
Constant exposure to other people's smoke increases the risk of heart
disease even for nonsmokers.
- High blood cholesterol
As blood cholesterol rises, so does risk of coronary heart disease..
When other risk factors (such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke)
are present, this risk increases even more. A person's cholesterol level
is also affected by age, sex, heredity and diet.
- High blood pressure
High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, causing the heart
to enlarge and weaken. It also increases your risk of stroke, heart
attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. When high blood
pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels
or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.
- Physical inactivity
An inactive lifestyle is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular,
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent heart and blood
vessel disease. The more vigorous the activity, the greater your benefits.
However, even moderate-intensity activities help if done regularly and
long term. Exercise can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and
obesity, as well as help lower blood pressure in some people.
- Obesity and Excess Body Weight
People who have excess body fat (especially if a lot of it's in the
waist) are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they
have no other risk factors. Excess weight increases the strain on the
heart. It also raises blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglyceride
(tri-GLIS'er-íd) levels, and lowers HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.
It can also make diabetes more likely to develop. Many obese and overweight
people may have difficulty losing weight. But by losing 10 to 20 pounds,
you can help lower your heart disease risk.
- Diabetes mellitus (di"ah-BE'teez or di"ah-BE'tis meh-LI'tis)
Diabetes seriously increases your risk of developing cardiovascular
disease. Even when glucose levels are under control, diabetes greatly
increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. About two-thirds of
people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
If you have diabetes, it's extremely important to work with your healthcare
provider to manage it and control any other risk factors you can.
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