News
Heart Health
Posted on: 01/26/2011
Did you know?
Many believe breast cancer is a leading cause of death in American women, but while one in thirty die of breast cancer, one in three die of heart disease. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. That’s why it’s so important to see your doctor.
What is heart disease?
There are many different types of heart disease—some are congenital (people are born with them) and others develop over the course of time and affect people later in life. Although there are different types of heart disease, coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common. CAD occurs when vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle become narrow. This narrowing happens when fats, cholesterol, and calcium build up on the vessel walls. As the build-up thickens, the vessels become narrower, making it difficult for blood to flow to the heart muscle. This can lead to a heart attack, heart failure, or even death.
Cholesterol receives a lot of attention for being a risk factor for CAD. You may think that if you lower your cholesterol numbers, you will reduce your overall heart disease risk. But focusing only on your cholesterol numbers is a small part of achieving the real goal—lowering your risk of CAD. Beyond the numbers, there are other risk factors that you need to be aware of.
There are two main types of risk factors for heart disease. There are those that you can change (modifiable) and those that you cannot change (non-modifiable). For example, age is a non-modifiable risk factor. Being older puts you at greater risk for developing CAD, but you cannot prevent aging. Smoking also puts you at higher risk for developing heart disease. But this risk factor is modifiable because you can quit smoking and lower your risk. Ultimately, since a single risk factor can double your chance for heart disease, taking action now could mean the world to you.
Are you at risk?
You may be at risk for heart disease if you have one or more of the following risk factors:
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoke
- Are overweight
- Are physically inactive
- Have a family history of early heart disease
- Are 55 years or older
What can you do?
The great thing about working on all of your modifiable risk factors is that many are connected. For example, if you are physically active, not only does the activity lower your risk for heart disease, but it can also lower your weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Here are some things you can do to lower your risk of heart disease:
- Exercise - Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Some good choices include walking, cycling, jogging, and swimming.
- Eat a Heart-healthy Diet - Try to include plenty of fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains in your diet. A healthy diet should include foods that are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat, sugar, and salt. Also, limiting your total calories to a reasonable amount is important.
- Keep Blood Pressure Under Control - If you have high blood pressure, work to get it under control. Eating a healthy diet, exercising, and not drinking alcohol are just some ways to help control your blood pressure. Some people will also need to take medicines.
- Keep Cholesterol Low - If you have high cholesterol, do not just try to lower the number. Instead, focus on lowering your risk for heart disease. Exercising and eating healthy not only lower your cholesterol numbers, they also make you healthier overall. Medicines may be needed for some people.
- Manage Diabetes - If you have diabetes, it is important to keep it under control. Eating well, exercising, and taking medicines can help with this. If you do not have diabetes, keeping your weight at a reasonable amount will help lower your chance of developing diabetes.
- Do Not Smoke - Do not smoke. If you do smoke, quit. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for heart death. Non-smokers should also avoid second-hand smoke.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight - Everyone’s body is different. A healthy weight for one person may not be healthy for another person. One thing is certain: too much weight can increase your risk of heart disease. Eating healthy and exercising can remove obesity as a risk factor.
- Limit Your Alcohol - Limit your alcohol to a moderate level. This means two or fewer drinks per day for men and one or fewer drinks for women and older adults. One drink equals a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.
Decreasing your risk for heart disease means more than just achieving normal cholesterol levels—it means addressing all modifiable risk factors. Practicing a healthy lifestyle is key to reducing many of the risk factors for heart disease. Work with your doctor to develop a plan that is right for you. This will ensure that you are doing all you can to keep your heart healthy. Experts in the diagnosis, treatment, and preventative care of all heart-related illnesses, our doctors can give you a clear picture of your current heart status, plus show you ways to lower your risk of heart disease.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (206) 386-9500.
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