It might seem hard to treat or avoid a concern as prevalent as cardiovascular illness, which is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. However, that is not the case. In reality, making small, daily efforts to maintain your cardiac health and avoid illness could go a long way. Besides, odds are you are probably aware of several key measures to improve cardiovascular health, such as exercising regularly and healthy dieting. Nevertheless, there are several more factors to take into account, such as stress management, keeping track of your medical needs, and most significantly, recognizing your heart disease risk factors. Surprisingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approximates that over half of all Americans have one or more risk factors for cardiovascular illnesses. While they differ from one person to another, by recognizing your individual risk for Deerfield Beach heart disease, you may successfully limit or control most of them. Read on to learn more.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs whenever the power of blood pressing against the sides of blood arteries is more than it ought to be. Whilst hypertension rarely triggers symptoms, it could harm the arteries, heart, and other organs with time.
Increased Cholesterol Levels
Cholesterol is an important waxy component that the body uses to form new cells and synthesize hormones. Unfortunately, once blood-cholesterol levels are greater than average, fatty deposits could form in the arteries, leaving them thinner and more difficult for blood to pass through.
Gender
It is a common belief that men have a greater risk of cardiovascular illness than women, but this is not accurate. Whereas a man is more prone to acquire a cardiovascular disease or have a cardiac arrest when he is younger, around 65, a woman as well might suffer a heart problem later on, at around 72 years.
Diabetes
Diabetes, a disorder in which your blood sugar or glucose levels are excessively high, may harm the nerves and blood vessels essential for the heart’s functionality. Besides, additional cardiovascular illness risk factors, such as high triglycerides, increased cholesterol, and hypertension, is also increased in diabetics.
Age
As people get older, their blood arteries become less supple, making it more difficult for blood to flow freely. Furthermore, fatty deposits called plaque in the arteries grow more prominent with aging; hence, reducing blood flow.
Obesity
Being obese does not lead to heart disease by itself. Nevertheless, most of those variables that contribute to obesity, such as consuming high-sodium, high-fat foods and not exercising, raise one’s risk of hypertension, diabetes, and increased cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for cardiovascular illness.
Smoking
Whereas the effects of tobacco are mostly focused on the lungs, it could have a wide-ranging effect on the body, such as the heart and circulatory system. Cigarette smoke contains compounds that could cause plaque accumulation in arteries, thicken blood, raise the risk of clotting, and cut blood flow to the extremities. Besides, smoking could also increase your chances of suffering a stroke.
Sedentary Living
For many people, sitting for long hours, whether in a vehicle seat, sofa, or desk chair, is detrimental to their cardiovascular health. Numerous research has found that the more time you spend sitting, the greater your risk of cardiovascular illness. Moreover, physical inactivity could also raise the risk of obesity or suffering a cardiac arrest.
Family History
Suppose any of your direct or close family members, such as your parents, siblings, or grandparents, have been identified with a cardiovascular illness or have any of the above risk factors. In that case, you are also more susceptible to suffering from this concern. Nonetheless, note that just because a close relative has heart problems or one or more of these risk factors does not indicate you will acquire an issue as well.
You are not alone if you believe you might well have one or more risk factors for heart disease. While managing and monitoring all these concerns could seem daunting, having a partner in long-term cardiac health may assist. At Life Imaging Fl, the heart disease experts can assist by providing you with deeper insights into your cardiac health and critical ways to maintain it in the long run. Get started today by calling the Deerfield Beach, FL office or requesting an appointment online.
