Heart disease is a catch-all phrase for a variety of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and how it works. You have the power to take action to protect yourself against heart disease. Small heart-healthy actions like adding more movement to our day or choosing healthy foods can have a big impact on protecting our heart health. Heart-healthy living involves understanding your risk, making healthy choices, and taking steps to reduce your chances of getting heart disease, including coronary heart disease, the most common type. By taking preventive measures, you can lower your risk of developing heart disease that could lead to a heart attack. You can also improve your overall health and well-being.
Understand your risk for heart disease
The first step toward heart health is understanding your risk of heart disease. Your risk depends on many factors, some of which are changeable and others that are not. Risk factors are conditions or habits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. These risk factors may be different for each person. Preventing heart disease starts with knowing what your risk factors are and what you can do to lower them.
Risk factors for heart disease
Have high blood pressure
Have high blood cholesterol
Have overweight or obesity
Have prediabetes or diabetes
Smoke
Do not get regular physical activity
Have a family history of early heart disease, for example, if your father or brother was diagnosed before age 55, or your mother or sister was diagnosed before age 65
Have a history of preeclampsia, which is a sudden rise in blood pressure and too much protein in the urine during pregnancy
Have unhealthy eating behaviors
Are age 55 or older for women or age 45 or older for men
Each risk factor increases your chance of developing heart disease. The more risks you have, the higher your overall risks. Some risk factors cannot be changed. These include your age, sex, and a family history of early heart disease. Many others can be modified. For example, being more physically active and eating healthy are important steps for your heart health. You can make the changes gradually, one at a time. But making them is very important.
Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is a type of heart disease where the arteries of the heart cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It is also sometimes called coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease. Coronary artery disease affects the larger coronary arteries on the surface of the heart. Another type of heart disease, called coronary microvascular disease, affects the tiny arteries within the heart muscle. Coronary microvascular disease is more common in women. The cause of coronary heart disease depends on the type. Coronary artery disease is often caused by cholesterol, a waxy substance that builds up inside the lining of the coronary arteries, forming plaque. This plaque buildup can partially or block blood flow in the large arteries of the heart. Coronary microvascular disease occurs when there is damage to the inner walls of the heart’s small blood vessels. For most people, coronary heart disease is preventable with a heart-healthy lifestyle and medications (if needed). Symptoms of coronary heart disease may be different from person to person even if they have the same type of coronary heart disease. However, because many people have no symptoms, they do not know they have coronary heart disease until they have chest pain; blood flow to the heart is blocked, causing a heart attack; or the heart suddenly stops pumping blood, also known as cardiac arrest.
You can choose healthy habits to help prevent heart disease and take charge of your medical conditions. If you have coronary heart disease, you may need heart-healthy lifestyle changes, medicines, surgery, or a combination of these approaches to manage your condition and prevent serious problems. Let February be a proactive call to action for a healthier lifestyle and an improved quality of life for everyone.
Adapted from: Tallahassee
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