It’s no secret that helping you take care of your heart health is our number-one priority. After all, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. According to the WHO, of these deaths, 85% are due to heart attack and stroke.
And while some of us are genetically predisposed to a higher risk of developing CVD, we wholeheartedly believe that understanding your risk for heart disease could save your life. That’s why education on CVDs is so important to us.
But there’s a lot to know about CVDs. So let’s start with the basics.
What are cardiovascular diseases?
You may or may not already know that there are multiple types of CVDs, but they all are disorders of the heart and blood vessels.
Each type affects different blood vessels supplying different parts of the body or affects different functions of the heart. They include:
- Coronary heart disease (affects the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle)
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects the blood vessels supplying the brain)
- Peripheral arterial disease (affecting the blood vessels supplying the arms and legs)
- Rheumatic heart disease (causes damage to the heart muscle and/or valves from rheumatic fever)
- Congenital heart disease (causes birth defects that affect the development and functionality of the heart)
- Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (causes blood clots in the legs which can travel to the heart and/or lungs)
While prevention is key, there are also certain risk factors to look out for and tactics to manage your risk.
What are the leading risk factors of cardiovascular disease?
According to the CDC, leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke are high blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and secondhand smoke exposure, obesity, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity.
High amounts of sodium in our diets can lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol. And high LDL cholesterol can more than double a person’s risk of heart disease.
Similarly, the CDC states, “Adults with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke as people who do not have diabetes.”
If you’re already at risk, it’s important to know the warning signs to look out for.
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK INCLUDE:
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, back, arm, or shoulder
- Nauseousness
- Light-headedness
- Feeling unusually tired
LESS COMMON SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK CAN INCLUDE:
- Indigestion
- Shortness of breath
- Back pain
Interestingly, men and women experience different symptoms of a heart attack. Women are much more likely to experience less common symptoms, like indigestion, back pain, and shortness of breath, sometimes even in the absence of the obvious chest pain or discomfort that men feel when experiencing a heart attack. Don’t delay getting support by ignoring signs or symptoms you might be experiencing.
If you believe you or someone you know is experiencing a heart attack or stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. Never drive a person to the hospital yourself. While you wait for emergency help, locate an AED if one is available, or ask someone to locate one for you.
What can I do to prevent cardiovascular disease?
According to the NIH, women generally have a lower prevalence of CVD than men, although women have a greater death rate and worse prognosis.
For everyone, however, prevention and ongoing screenings are key.
Preventative screenings should take place yearly in low- or average-risk patients. If someone is diabetic, has high risk factors, or first-degree relatives, we recommend more frequent screenings every 3-6 months.
How can I lower my risk for cardiovascular disease?
Most instances of CVD can be prevented by addressing risk factors before they create health problems, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, and air pollution.
Simple lifestyle changes like walking daily, lowering your sodium intake, reducing alcohol consumption, and eating healthy will go a long way in reducing your risk for CVDs.
To further lower your risk, focus on getting quality sleep and managing your stress levels.
You can also keep up to date on your preventative screenings to monitor your progress and stay on top of any abnormalities that may appear.
Start managing your risk factors with a cardiovascular screening.
The first step toward a healthier heart is a simple one that you can take right now. Call Texas Cardiology Associates to schedule a screening, start understanding your risk, and come up with a plan to manage your risk.
Call us at (281) 358-1950 or book an appointment online.
- https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/heart-disease-stroke.htm#:~:text=The%20Nation’s%20Risk%20Factors%20and,unhealthy%20diet%2C%20and%20physical%20inactivity.