Heart disease is the leading killer of adults in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease claimed more than 600,000 lives in 2005, equally divided between men and women.
Heart disease includes arrhythmias, valve problems and reduced circulation to the heart, called coronary artery disease, or CAD.
Coronary artery disease is significantly affected by five major risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and cigarette smoking. All five contribute to a dangerous buildup of plaque that narrows the interior lining of the coronary arteries, which are the vessels that supply blood to the heart.
Some of the risk factors are inherited, but others are easily managed through a combination of lifestyle changes, diet, exercise and medications.
Hypertension
Hypertension is divided into two types: essential and secondary hypertension. More than 90 percent of those diagnosed with high blood pressure have essential hypertension. There is no known cause. The remaining people with secondary hypertension are affected by other medical conditions such as kidney damage, coarcation of the aorta, thyroid dysfunction or certain types of tumors.
Hypertension is treatable through diet, exercise, weight reduction, lifestyle changes and medications.
High Cholesterol
According to the American Heart Association, total cholesterol levels should be less than 200mg/dl. Cholesterol levels between 200 and 239mg/dl are considered borderline and levels above 240mg/dl are considered high risk.
The total cholesterol values taken from a blood lipid profile are composed of a number of values, with the most important being low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL cholesterol is considered to be the bad type of cholesterol because it facilitates the deposit of plaque on the inside lining of the coronary arteries. HDL cholesterol is considered to be the good type of cholesterol because it scavenges plaque from the coronary arteries and carries it away to be excreted.
Cholesterol can be managed through a combination of diet, exercise and medications. Eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol significantly reduces LDL levels. Exercise has been shown to increase HDL levels. Medications can also be prescribed to lower LDL levels in the blood.
Obesity
Obesity and overweight are two terms often used incorrectly. Overweight is a general term that encompasses both people who are "over-fat" as well as well-developed athletes with a high degree of muscle weight. However, the term overweight is another term for having too much stored fat on the body.
One of the most accurate ways to determine whether someone is overweight or obese is to calculate his body mass index, using the chart below. Overweight is defined as having a BMI between 25 to 30. Obese is having a BMI more than 30.
Carrying additional fat weight is a primary risk factor for heart disease because it puts additional strain on the heart to circulate blood to more tissues. There is also a high association between obesity and other risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. Recently, studies have shown that men and women who store their fat around their midsection are at greater risk for heart disease than those who carry fat in other parts of their bodies.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that manifests itself with the way the body uses glucose, or blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes: type I and type II. Both types of diabetes interfere with how the body uses glucose. When there is an abundance of glucose circulating in the blood, it can damage the delicate lining of the coronary arteries. Diabetes is also associated with other risk factors such as obesity and hypertension. Fortunately, diabetes can be treated by making healthful changes to lifestyle and diet, and by taking prescribed medications.
Cigarette Smoking
Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable risk for heart disease. Smoking cigarettes results in inhaling carbon monoxide and hundreds of toxic chemicals that injure the lining of the coronary arteries. It has also been shown to lower HDL levels in the blood. Like many of the other risk factors, smoking is often associated with other factors that represent poor lifestyle and diet choices.
