Heart disease is the leading killer disease for both women and men in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 4 deaths results from heart disease. Heart disease occurs when the coronary arteries are blocked or constricted and cannot deliver enough blood to the heart. This may result in angina or a heart attack.
Various risk factors contribute to getting heart disease—non-modifiable or modifiable factors. There’s nothing that can be done about non-modifiable risk factors. However, this does not mean you are doomed because many risk factors can be improved by leading a healthy life.
Experts from denova Healthcare have prepared an in-depth guide detailing the causes of heart disease and how to mitigate these risk factors. Read on!
Uncontrollable Heart Disease Risk Factors
- Age
Older people are at a greater risk of suffering from heart disease. Women aged 55+ and men above 45 years stand a higher chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
- Family And Medical History
Family history is considered a risk factor because cardiovascular disease has a genetic element to it. You are at greater risk if you have a first-degree relative who had CVD at a relatively young age.
- Race Or Ethnicity
Some risk factors are more prevalent among certain demographic groups than others. People of Caribbean, South Asian, or African descent have a greater risk of suffering heart disease.
- Sex
Though heart disease risk factors affect both men and women, some are more prevalent in one gender than the other. Diabetes, a CVD risk factor, is more common in women than men.
Heart Disease Prevention Factors One Can Control
There is a lot you can do to lower your odds of getting cardiovascular disease. Here are seven risk factors you can control through lifestyle changes:
- Don’t Smoke, Vape, Or Use Tobacco— Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your heart. Smoking increases blood pressure by damaging the heart and blood vessels. Consult with your healthcare professionals to understand the effective ways to kick the habit.
- Manage your weight— Being overweight or obese can increase the chances of developing heart disease. This is because obesity and being overweight are linked to other CDV risk factors like diabetes, high cholesterol levels in the blood, and high blood pressure. You can lower these risks by maintaining a healthy weight.
- Make Some Moves: Get Regular Exercise— Your body can benefit tremendously from regular exercise. Such benefits include improved blood circulation and strengthening of the heart. All these benefits lower your chances of developing heart disease.
- Manage stress— Heart disease can be linked to stress in many ways. Being under stress significantly raises your blood pressure. Extreme stress can even trigger a heart attack. Overeating, smoking, or heavy drinking, which are common ways of coping with stressful situations, are bad for the heart.
- Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet— We are what we eat. To reduce your risk of developing CVD, limit added sugars, foods high in sodium and saturated fats. Adopt an eating plan like the DASH diet to help lower blood cholesterol and pressure.
- Get Regular Health Screenings— High cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure are major risk factors for heart disease. Without regular health screenings, you may not know you have these conditions. Know your numbers and when to take action through regular health screenings.
Get Rigorous Heart Screening from denova Healthcare Today
Your heart’s health is supreme, and hence you need to have a regular heart screening schedule to ensure optimum functionality. At denova Healthcare, we offer addiction treatment, primary care, emotional and behavioral care to lower your odds of developing heart disease. Please get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment with our reputable medical professionals.
