Are You At Risk?

Are You At Risk

Know the Risk Factors:
Understanding what puts you at risk for heart disease and how you can modify or reduce your risk may save your life!
  • Family History. If either or both your parents or other close relatives had a heart attack, especially at a young age, then you have an increased risk for a heart attack. It is extremely important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle and do whatever you can to prevent heart disease. 
  • Age increases the risk of heart disease. Risk becomes greater at ages 45 for men and 55 for women (after menopause).
  • Cholesterol in the blood is normal, but too much can build to form a paste that lines the blood vessels. This thickening of the arteries blocks the blood supply to vital organs and makes the heart work harder—it can cause a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol can be inherited but can also be diet-related. Regular exercise and if necessary, medicine, can help to lower cholesterol levels.
  • Diabetes occurs when the body can’t process glucose, or sugar. Over time, all the blood vessels in the body can be damaged, increasing your risk. A low-calorie, low-sugar diet, careful weight control and exercise may control diabetes in some—others may require medicine.
  • Blood Pressure measures the force of the blood against the artery walls. If the pressure is too high (hypertension), it weakens the blood vessels and strains the heart. You cannot “feel” high blood pressure and should have your blood pressure checked regularly. A healthy diet that is low in salt, moderate alcohol use, and regular exercise may keep blood pressure in check, however in some people, blood pressure lowering medication may be necessary.
  • Smoking nearly doubles your risk of a heart attack. The nicotine in tobacco makes the blood vessels narrow, causing the heart to work harder. Smoking is the most preventable risk factor for heart disease.
  • Obesity substantially increases your risk of a heart attack, hypertension, and diabetes. The heart must pump harder in obese people. Your ideal Body Mass Index (BMI) is based on your height and weight—see chart under "Know Your Numbers" tab.
  • Inactivity can double the risk for heart disease and also contributes to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Regular exercise improves blood circulation and heart efficiency, and improves survival of a heart attack.
HEART ATTACK—Learn the warning signs:
The symptoms of a heart attack are different with everyone and may include any combination of the following:

Chest Pain or Discomfort can be painful or feel more like pressure, squeezing or fullness.

Discomfort Elsewhere may be in one or both arms, shoulder, jaw, neck or abdomen.

Shortness of Breath can appear on its own or in tandem with other symptoms.

Other Symptoms nausea, dizziness, and cold sweat.

When you, or someone you are with, experiences ANY of these symptoms or is unresponsive, CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY! Don’t wait to see if symptoms subside. Every second counts.

CHOLESTEROL

Everyone has cholesterol in their body. In fact, your body needs cholesterol to function properly. However, some people have a problem where their body makes too much cholesterol and that is when doctors must be concerned. Too much cholesterol in your system can put you at a high risk for a heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular disease.

Cholesterol is made in the liver. High cholesterol levels can be caused from diets that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol. It can also be caused from genetic factors. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, you should watch your cholesterol levels carefully, since levels may creep up at any time.

 What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty like substance in the blood that is made by our liver. It has many important functions including the manufacture of hormones! Fat is absorbed in your intestine and travels to the liver. Cholesterol and fat leave the liver and travel together as “lipoproteins” throughout the body. When there is too much cholesterol, it can get stuck on the inside of your blood vessels where it starts a process of narrowing.

As this waxy substance known as “plaque” builds up inside the blood vessels (a condition called atherosclerosis), it can cause your arteries to narrow blocking the vital flow of blood to your body. This blockage causes your heart to work harder to pump blood. When this blockage occurs in the arteries that nourish the heart, your heart is deprived of oxygen and you may experience chest pain (angina) or a heart attack.

Know Your Numbers!
The first step to heart-healthy living is to have your blood tested to determine its cholesterol values. This can be done by drawing blood and sending it to a lab or by a simple finger-stick test that gives an instant result. Once you know you have a problem with cholesterol, you can take active steps to reduce it. Remember, knowledge is power!

CHOLESTEROL LEVELS DEFINED:


Total
LDL (Lethal)
HDL (Healthy)
Desirable*
< 200
 < 100
> 50
Borderline
200-239 
 130-159
 40-59
High
> 239
> 159
< 40
* These levels are for normal individuals. Those with risk factors should consult a physician for their proper level.
Cholesterol Ratio (Total / HDL)
Fasting Triglycerides
Values other than ratio are mg/dL.
Desirable*
< 4.1
< 150
The Different Types of Cholesterol:
Your total blood cholesterol is made up of “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol:
  • LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is the “lethal” or “bad” cholesterol because it sticks easily to the sides of the walls of an artery and causes the reactions that progress to atherosclerosis.
  • HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is the “healthy” or “good” cholesterol because it seeks out and removes the cholesterol stuck to the vessel walls and returns it to the liver for processing.
Managing High Cholesterol
Living a healthy lifestyle is the first step to reducing your cholesterol:
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet that is low in salt but high in fiber. Avoid food high in saturated fat such as milk products, red meats, spreads. Total sodium intake should be under 2,400 mg a day. Cook your foods without salt and use olive oil rather than butter. Eat protein- rich legumes, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Avoid foods with a high glycemic index such as refined sugars, cakes and candies.
  • Stop smoking by identifying when you most like to smoke and then changing your daily habits to avoid those times. Smoking constricts your blood vessels, which leads to high blood pressure. It also reduces the HDL, the good cholesterol that your body needs!
  • Exercise and maintain a healthy weight to lower your cholesterol and your blood pressure. Exercising helps to increase your HDL, the “healthy” cholesterol, and reduce your total cholesterol. A good rule of thumb is to strive for 30 minutes of exercise a day, and, for those who are able to, at least 6 minutes of cardiac exercise a day. Whenever possible, take the stairs rather than the elevator, and walk rather than drive.
  • Consider supplements. Talk to your doctor about vitamin supplements that may help to raise your HDL. Be your own advocate— knowledge is power!
Cholesterol lowering medicine: When changes to your lifestyle still don’t lower your cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe medication to lower it. When this happens it is extremely important that you take the medication exactly as the doctor ordered. You should not try to reduce the amount of medication without your doctor’s supervision. The key to managing cholesterol is to catch the problem before it causes damage to your body! Prevention = LIFE!

UNDERSTANDING BLOOD PRESSURE

Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer!
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE is commonly referred to as “The Silent Killer” because many people have no symptoms to let them know that something is wrong. Some people do experience headaches or lightheadedness which they mistake for other causes.

High blood pressure can strike anyone at any time. That is why it is so important to regularly check your blood pressure.

Make a habit of taking the time to check your blood pressure wherever the self-service machines are available. If you notice that either your systolic blood pressure or your diastolic blood pressure are consistently over the normal levels (see chart on next page) after two or three visits, please see your primary physician.

What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is a very important measurement of the flow of blood throughout your body. Our hearts must pump oxygen-rich blood all the way down to our fingers and toes. Blood pressure measures the force of the blood against the artery walls. If the pressure is too high (hypertension), it weakens the blood vessels and strains the heart because it must work extra hard to get the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.

Blood pressure is measured by inflating a “cuff” around your arm. Two numbers are recorded—the first number is the systolic blood pressure and the second number is the diastolic blood pressure (see blood pressure levels chart).

Effects of high blood pressure
Over time, high blood pressure strains the heart and weakens the blood vessels. If left untreated, high blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack and stroke and may also lead to blindness, kidney failure and heart failure.

What causes high blood pressure? 
In most cases, it is difficult to determine the exact cause of high blood pressure. We do know that certain risk factors play a key role in its presence: obesity (being overweight), inactivity, heavy alcohol consumption, age, family history and race.

Managing High Blood Pressure
Living a healthy lifestyle is the first step to reducing your blood pressure:
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet that is low in salt and cholesterol but high in fiber. Avoid foods high in saturated fats such as fatty milk products, red meats, spreads and dressings—these foods are high in cholesterol. Total sodium intake should be under 2,400 mg a day. Cook your foods without excess salt and use olive oil rather than butter. Eat more protein-rich legumes, fruits and vegetables
  • Reduce stress through relaxation techniques and a positive attitude. Stress causes your heart to have to work harder. Learn what techniques work best for you and then employ them daily.
  • Limit alcohol to no more than 2 drinks (or 1 ounce of alcohol) per day. Heavy alcohol use can raise your blood pressure over time.
  • Exercise and maintain a healthy weight to lower your cholesterol and your blood pressure. A good rule of thumb is to strive for 30 minutes of exercise a day. Whenever possible, take the stairs rather than the elevator, and walk rather than drive.
  • Stop smoking by identifying when you most like to smoke and then changing your daily habits to avoid those times. Smoking constricts your blood vessels which leads to high blood pressure. It also reduces the HDL—the good cholesterol that your body needs!
Blood Pressure Medication
When changes to your lifestyle still don’t lower your blood pressure, then your doctor may prescribe medication to lower it. It is extremely important that you take the medication exactly as the doctor ordered. Check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter drugs in case there is a conflict with your blood pressure medication.

The key to managing high blood pressure is to catch it and reduce it before it causes damage to your body.
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