According to American Heart Association statistics, cardiovascular disease affects more than 80 million people in the United States, and it includes high blood pressure, heart failure, coronary artery disease and stroke. Patients who have any one of them are at risk for a number of other risk factors. Some of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke are inherited and not easily managed. Some can be easily modified through prudent lifestyle changes.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors
A number of risk factors for heart disease and stroke are difficult to manage. They include advancing age, gender and race. The chances of contracting heart disease and stroke increase with age. More than 80 percent of heart disease deaths occur in those older than 65. Males over 40 have higher incidences of coronary heart disease than women. Women typically experience symptoms 10 to 20 years later than men.
If your parents have a history of heart disease, chances are you're also at higher risk than others. African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, American Indians and Hawaiians have higher incidences of heart disease and stroke, largely because of the prevalence of obesity and diabetes.
Risk Factors Based on Lifestyle
Cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle and obesity are risk factors that are under your control. Cigarette smoking is the single most modifiable risk factor for preventing premature death. Cigar and pipe smokers have a higher mortality rate than cigarette smokers. People who live with smokers are also at risk through secondhand and passive smoke.
High blood cholesterol increases one's risk for heart disease and multiplies the impact of other risk factors like gender, age and diet. Hypertension puts additional stress on the heart an major arteries, eventually compromising them. It also contributes to kidney failure, heart attack and stroke.
People who live sedentary lifestyles generally tend to be overweight, have higher incidences of high blood pressure and have higher blood cholesterol levels. Exercising for as little as 10 to 20 minutes a day can significantly reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Obesity is defined as having a body mass index over 30. People who are overweight - particularly if they carry excess weight around their midsection - are more likely to experience a heart attack and stroke, compared to others of normal weight. Obesity also contributes to other risk factors like hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and a host of orthopedic problems.
Other Contributing Risk Factors
A number of risk factors for heart disease stem from contemporary living. These include psychological stress, birth control pills and excessive alcohol intake.
Other risk factors specific to stroke include having a history of trans ischemic attacks (TIA) or mini-strokes, high red blood cell counts, sickle cell anemia, belonging to lower socio-economic and educational levels, excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse--particularly cocaine.
