Coronary heart disease causes approximately 1 of every 6 deaths in the United States, making it the leading cause of death, according to research published by the American Heart Association in "Circulation." Two common medical conditions -- hypertension and high cholesterol -- increase your risk of developing heart disease. Understanding these conditions and the relationship between them can help you make necessary lifestyle changes to reduce your heart disease risk.
Hypertension
Hypertension, a condition of high blood pressure, affects approximately one-third of all adults in the United States. Primary hypertension, the most common type of hypertension, occurs slowly over time and often without a specific cause. When high blood pressure occurs as a result of another condition, like kidney disease, doctors refer to it as secondary hypertension. Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels. As blood pressure increases, it damages the walls of the vessels, leaving them vulnerable to the effects of high cholesterol. The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute defines high blood pressure as consistent blood pressure readings greater than 140 mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol, classified as a lipid, is a type of fat produced within the body and consumed in animal-derived foods like meat and dairy. Because of the waxy characteristic of cholesterol, the body packages it into a specific type of protein known as a lipoprotein to transport it through the blood. Low-density lipoprotein carries cholesterol from the liver to the body, where cells use it to build cell membranes and stimulate hormone production. High-density lipoprotein picks up excess cholesterol from the body and carries it back to the liver for use to create bile acids, which the body excretes in the waste. As cholesterol levels increase, the amount of LDL flowing through the blood vessels increases. Areas of damage, often caused by hypertension, attract cholesterol. The accumulation of cholesterol restricts the flow of blood, increasing the risk for heart disease.
Risk Factors
Many people who suffer from high cholesterol also suffer from hypertension and vice versa. This may be explained by the fact that both conditions share many common risk factors. As you age, your blood pressure and cholesterol levels gradually increase. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for developing high blood pressure because your heart must pump more forcefully to propel the blood through the additional tissue. Being overweight also increases your LDL cholesterol level while lowering your HDL cholesterol level, both risks for developing heart disease. Smoking increases your blood pressure and causes additional damage to the walls of the arteries, which increases the risk for high cholesterol.
Lifestyle Changes
Although you can't change your age or gender, you can implement a variety of lifestyle changes to help manage your hypertension and high blood cholesterol. Follow a low-sodium, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. Eating a healthy diet can help you lose weight, and losing as few as 5 to 10 lbs. can lower your cholesterol levels, according to MayoClinic.com. Increasing your participation in physical activity to at least 30 minutes per day on most days can also decrease both blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
References
- "Circulation": Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics -- 2011 Update
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: High Blood Pressure
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Is High Blood Pressure
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Is High Blood Cholesterol
- MayoClinic.com; Top 5 Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Cholesterol; May 2010
