Am I at Risk of Heart Disease?
Heart Risk Factors Come in Two Groups: Modifiable and Non-Modifiable
Jun 9, 2009
Although we still do not understand the precise cause of what causes heart attacks, research has identified many of the risk factors which make an individual susceptible to developing Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD).
Also referred to as Coronary Heart Disease, IHD is a condition where the heart muscle is prone to Ischaemia - meaning a cutting off of the blood flow to the heart muscle. The word is derived from the Greek ισχαιμiα, isch- meaning restriction and haema meaning blood. When the heart is deprived of adequate blood flow, this manifests as chest pain or Angina - a dull, throttling pain or ache that develops in behind the breastbone.
Risk Factors for Heart Attacks
Today about 40 independent risk factors have been identified, each of which independently increases the chances of an individual getting a heart attack.These Risk factors can be classified into two broad groups - those that can be can be treated or modified, and those that cannot be changed.
Risk factors that cannot be changed
- Age : The older a person gets, the greater the risk of getting a heart attack - over 80% of those who die of IHD are over 65.
- Male gender: Males are at greater risk of suffering a heart attack than females - and this is true of all ages. Even after menopause, when a woman's risk of getting a heart attack increases, a woman's risk is less than for men of the same age.
- Family history and genetic makeup: If your one or both your parents suffered from IHD, you yourself are more likely to develop IHD.
Although one cannot control one's age, sex and family history, it is vital that one treats or modifies those risk factors which can be changed
Risk Factors That can be Changed
- Being overweight: People who carry excess weight — especially if most of this is around the waist — are more likely to develop IHD. Excess weight puts an extra workload on the heart. By losing even a few kilograms, a person can lower his or her heart disease risk.High blood pressure: Having elevated blood pressure means that the heart has to pump against a greater pressure gradient to keep the circculation going .
- High blood cholesterol: The higher a person's level of cholesterol (especially the fraction called LDL Cholesterol or "Bad" cholesterol" ) the greater the risk of heart disease.
- Smoking: A smoker's risk of dying from a heart attack is about double that of a non-smoker of the same age and sex. Those who smoke cigars or pipes also have a higher risk than non-smokers, although this risk is less than that for cigarette smokers. Passive smoking (constant exposure to cigerette smoke exhaled by other people) also increases the risk of heart disease even for non-smokers.
- Physical inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for IHD. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise (running, walking, swimming, gym work etc) helps prevent heart disease. Even activities of moderate intensity help if done regularly and long term. Regular exercise can help lower cholesterol, high blood pressure and weight - and reduce the risk not only of IHD but also of diabetes.
- Diabetes mellitus: This disease seriously increases a person's risk of developing IHD - in fact, a diabetic has six times the risk of a heart attack as a non-diabetic. Even if blood sugar levels are well controlled, diabetics are at greater risk of heart disease - but of course the risk is much greater if blood sugar is not well controlled. The majority of diabetics die from some form of cardiovascular disease - so if you have diabetes, it is vitally important to control any other risk factors (such as blood pressure or smoking).
Each of these Risk Factors is associated with an increased likelihood of IHD and heart attacks - for example, when high blood pressure exists with being overweight, having diabetes, continuing to smoke and having high cholesterol, the risk of a heart attack is greatly increased.
So controlling those Risk Factors which one can control is essential if one does not want to allow the cumulative and combined effect of all these factors to bring on a premature heart attack.
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