Heart Disease
Some risk factors for heart disease, such as advancing age, gender and heredity, can't be controlled. But, says the American Heart Association, you can control other factors, including:
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High cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the body's cells. Two ways to lower your cholesterol are to exercise regularly and eat a diet low in saturated fat.
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High blood pressure. Your heart must work harder when your blood pressure is high. When this occurs for an extended time, the heart can enlarge and arteries can become scarred and hardened. You can treat it with medication and changes in your diet and lifestyle.
- Cigarette smoking. Smoking promotes heart disease by quickening the development of atherosclerosis, reducing your HDL (good) cholesterol and raising your blood pressure.
- Physical inactivity. Lack of exercise is a major risk factor for heart disease because inactivity contributes to higher cholesterol and obesity.
- Obesity. Your risk of heart disease increases if you're more than 30 percent overweight. Obesity raises cholesterol and can lead to diabetes, another risk factor for heart disease.
- Alcohol. Having one or two alcoholic beverages daily may reduce your risk of heart disease. Drinking more than this can raise blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
Preventing heart disease
You can reduce your risk of heart disease and a heart attack by seeing your doctor for regular checkups to evaluate your risk factors. If you have risk factors, you and your doctor can work together to control them.
The AHA recommends regular screening for your risk of heart disease beginning at age 20. Screening includes measuring blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference and pulse every two years, and getting a cholesterol profile and glucose testing every five years.
Your doctor may want you to have more frequent screenings or visits if you have a family history of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Signs of a heart attack
If you or someone you're with is having a heart attack, call 911 or your emergency medical help number. Give the person an aspirin while waiting for emergency help to arrive.
The signs of a heart attack include:
- Pain, pressure or a squeezing in the middle of the chest that lasts for two minutes or more
- Pain that spreads from the chest to the shoulders, neck, jaw or arms
- Dizziness or faint feeling
- Nausea
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Difficulty breathing
About This Article
Publication: Vitality magazine;
Publication Date: April 1999;
Author: Barbara Floria;
Source: American Heart Association;
Source URL: http://www.americanheart.org/;
Online Editor: Dianna Sinovic;
Online Medical Reviewer: Cynthia Godsey, M.S.N., F.N.P./C., Gordon Lambert, M.D.;
Date Last Modified: 4/21/04
