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Risk Reduction for Heart & Vascular Disease
Risk factors are habits, traits or conditions that may increase a person's chance of developing atherosclerosis, a major cause of stroke, heart and vascular disease. Atherosclerosis is a slow process in which deposits of fat, cholesterol, and calcium build up inside the artery. Atherosclerosis cannot be cured. However, research shows that modifying your risk factors can prolong and improve the quality of your life. The key is to know your risk factors and to modify them. Talk with your health care providers to find ways to achieve this goal.
Risk factors for cardiac or vascular disease that cannot be changed include:
- Family history of the onset of disease in:
- Men, 55 years of age or younger
- Women, 65 years of age or younger
- Gender:
- Male
- Post-menopausal female
- The aging process
Risk factors that can be modified include:
- High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart and vascular disease
- The American Heart Association has identified tobacco use to be the single most important risk factor for heart and vascular disease.
- High blood pressure raises your risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
- Lack of regular exercise (sedentary lifestyle) increases your risk for heart and vascular disease
- Heart and vascular disease occurs at an earlier age and progresses faster in persons with diabetes.
- Excess Weight can lead to high blood pressue, diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels.
- Depression increases the likelihood that cardiovascular disease will develop and it predicts poorer recovery following a cardiac or vascular event. Depression also makes it more difficult to stop smoking and to engage in a healthy lifestyle.
- Stress can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure and overeating.
Reducing your risk also means knowing the warning signs for heart and stroke.
Heart Attack Warning Signs
- Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.
- Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms
- Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
Stroke or Mini-stroke (TIA: Transient ischemic attack) Warning Signs
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body
- Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
- Loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech
- Sudden, severe headaches with no apparent cause
- Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially along with any of the previous symptoms
Heart Attack And Stroke Are Medical Emergencies
Not all of these signs occur in every attack. If you notice one or more of the signs, do not wait. Call 911 and get medical help right away.
Review Date: 01/07
