Risk Factors For Heart Disease

 

 You Can Prevent These.

 Heart disease can be caused by many factors, some of which are hereditary and others related to your diet. If you've been diagnosed with heart disease, it's important to know what your treatment options are and what you can do to reverse heart disease and live a long healthy life.  The words "heart disease" can often be used interchangeably with the word "cardiovascular illness."

Heart Disease

 It is also the leading cause of death from heart disease in America. Heart disease is basically any condition that damages or destroys the function of the heart (including the heart chambers themselves). Conditions that damage the heart include enlarged heart, congenital defects, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and problems with heart valves. Conditions that affect the heart chambers themselves are also commonly referred to as heart abnormalities. These include enlargement of the atria (the upper chamber of the heart), congenital heart disease, calcium deposits in the atria, congenital heart disease caused by protein deficiency and problems with the valves of the heart.

There are a number of complications that can occur in people who have heart disease including cardiomyopathy, heart failure, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. All of these complications can be fatal if not treated in a timely manner. Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart fails to efficiently pump blood to the body. Heart failure is a condition where the heart isn't able to pump enough blood to supply for the body's needs. Myocardial infarction is a heart attack where the heartbeat stops and the blood flow stops to a certain section of the heart usually the atrium.

Certain conditions are associated with a higher risk of suffering from one or more complications. These include being overweight, being over forty years of age, having high blood pressure, diabetes and having a family history of heart diseases. Being overweight usually refers to excess body fat. Another common factor associated with this condition is smoking. Smokers are more likely to suffer from cardiac diseases including heart attacks caused by left ventricular hypertrophy or LVH.

Coronary artery disease is caused when fatty deposits buildup in the walls of the heart arteries. When this happens the blood flow is decreased to the heart and there can be an increased risk of heart failure. Heart attacks caused by LVH and left ventricular hypertrophy are common with people who are obese, over forty years of age and have a family history of cardiovascular disease. People who smoke are more likely to have a stroke because smoking increases the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In addition, smoking can cause a number of other serious health issues such as cancer and diabetes.

If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, then you are also more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Many people who have hypertension or high blood pressure do not seek medical attention until their doctor tells them that they have a risk factor for a heart disease. It is therefore very important that you see your doctor regularly for checkups to monitor your health and to determine whether any risk factors are present. If you have any symptoms of heart disease such as a cough, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness or fatigue, it is imperative that you go to the doctor to find out if you have any underlying heart problems.

You may be at risk of developing diabetes if you have high cholesterol levels. Therefore, you should consult your doctor regularly to learn more about ways to control and reduce your cholesterol levels. If you smoke or are obese, you are more likely to develop diabetes. Smoking and obesity increase the risk factors for type 2 diabetes by causing damage to the insulin-producing cells in the body. Blood tests can detect the presence of diabetes in its early stages. Diabetes can be successfully managed with the use of daily medication and healthy eating habits.

Heart disease and cholesterol play a vital role in maintaining proper health. High cholesterol can cause the development of heart disease and high blood pressure. If you do not regularly visit your doctor, you could be exposing yourself to developing heart disease and high blood pressure complications. Your doctor can help you learn more about risk factors for heart attacks, cholesterol levels and other health conditions. If you are concerned about any of your health indicators, make an appointment with your doctor today.