The blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood are called coronary arteries
1- MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS
These risk factors can be changed to reduce the chance of developing heart disease:
SMOKING
- People who smoke have 2-3 fold risk of early death from heart attack. Nicotine narrows the blood vessels causing an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.
- Carbon monoxide competes with oxygen in the red blood cells so there is less oxygen carried to the heart.
- Smoking increases the risk of heart disease by damaging the artery wall and by allowing more cholesterol to deposit on the wall. The blood also becomes thicker and forms clots more easily.
Suggestions on how to stop smoking:
− Become aware of your habit.
− Plan other activities to replace smoking (walking, chew gum) .
− Stop smoking one day at a time.
− Determine what cause or triggers make you smoke.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION)
- High blood pressure is 140 over 90 or higher. A diagnosis of high blood pressure is not made until your blood pressure is checked several times and it stays high.
- With high blood pressure, your heart is working harder than normal. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and hardening of the blood vessels.
To control high blood pressure:
− Maintain healthy weight: loss of weight alone can decrease ones blood pressure.
− Be physically active. Exercise at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week.
− Eat healthy meals low in cholesterol, salt and saturated fat (which comes mainly from eating meat, chicken and dairy products).
− Take medications the way your doctor tells you.
OBESITY (OVERWEIGHT)
- People who carry even a little bit of excess weight are putting themselves at increased risk of heart disease. Having extra weight makes all parts of the body work harder to achieve normal functions.
- Being overweight is associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, peripheral artery disease as well as bone problems and many cancers.
To control obesity:
Work closely with your dietitian or doctor to:
− Reduce your total calories intake.
− Start an exercise program.
PHYSICAL INACTIVITY
- Inactive people run a greater risk of having coronary artery disease than people who exercise regularly
Suggestions for exercise:
− Follow the exercises given to you by your health care provider.
− Gradually increase your activity.
− Exercise when you are rested.
− Select an enjoyable aerobic exercise and do it at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes.
STRESS AND TENSION
- Stress is a normal part of our lives. Stress causes the release of hormone called adrenalin, which speeds up your heart rate, narrows your blood vessels and increases your blood pressure. Therefore, stress makes you heart work harder.
- People who feel time pressures and who are hard driving are more prone to coronary artery disease.
Suggestions to reduce stress:
− Identify events in your life that create stress and how you respond to it.
− Avoid situations that cause increased stress.
− When you cannot avoid stressful situations, choose to respond in a way that is not stressful for you.
− Exercise regularly.
2- NON-MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS
These risk factors cannot be changed:
- AGE: the older a person is, the more likely it is for the heart and blood vessels to be damaged.
- GENDER: men are more likely to have heart and blood vessels disease at an early age than women. Women do not usually have heart and blood vessels disease until after menopause.
- HEREDITY: There may be genetic factors that raises the likelihood of having heart and blood vessels disease.
