Transcript Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular
Disease
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of illness and
death in the world
The majority of cases stem from atherosclerosis
In coronary heart disease, the arteries to the heart muscle
(myocardium) are narrowed leads to reduced blood supply
to the heart can result in chest pain (angina pectoris) or
other symptoms, typically triggered by physical exertion If a
narrowed blood vessel is completely blocked by a blood
clot, the area of the heart just beyond the blockage is
denied oxygen and nourishment, resulting in a heart attack
(MI)
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Ten risk factors help to predict the likelihood of CHD are
1. Heredity
2. Gender
3. Age
4. Cigarette smoking
5. High blood pressure
6. Diabetes
7. Obesity
8. Lack of physical activity
9. Abnormal blood cholesterol
10. Homocysteine levels
The more risk factors a person has, the greater the likelihood of
developing heart disease. Heredity, gender, and age cannot be
modified, but the others can be influenced by the individual's
behavior
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Major risk factors [can't be changed]
 Age — Over 83 percent of people who die of coronary heart
disease are 65 or older

Gender — Men have a greater risk of heart attack than
women do, and they have attacks earlier in life

Heredity (including Race) — Children of parents with heart
disease are more likely to develop it themselves. African
Americans have more severe high blood pressure than
Caucasians and a higher risk of heart disease. Heart disease
risk is also higher among Mexican Americans, American
Indians and some Asian Americans. This is partly due to
higher rates of obesity and diabetes. Most people with a
strong family history of heart disease have one or more other
risk factors.
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Major risk factors [can be modified]
Can be modified through treatment or control by changing
lifestyle or taking medicine

Tobacco smoke
Smokers' risk of developing coronary heart disease is 2–4
times that of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is a powerful
independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death in patients
with coronary heart disease.
Cigarette smoking also acts with other risk factors to greatly
increase the risk for coronary heart disease.

High blood cholesterol
As blood cholesterol rises, so does risk of coronary heart
disease. When other risk factors (such as high blood pressure
and tobacco smoke) are present, this risk increases even
more.
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Total blood cholesterol is classified by levels:
Desirable: under 200 mg/dL 5
Borderline: 200-239 mg/dL
High risk: 240 mg/dL and above

LDL Cholesterol
Optimal (ideal): Less than 100 mg/dL
Near optimal/above optimal: 100-129 mg/dL
Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL
High: 160-189 mg/dL (high risk)
Very high: 190 mg/dL and above (very high risk)

HDL Cholesterol
Major heart disease risk factor: less than 40 mg/dL
Protection against heart disease: 60 mg/dL and Above
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
High blood pressure
High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, causing
the heart to thicken and become stiffer. It also increases
stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart
failure. When high blood pressure exists with obesity,
smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of
heart attack or stroke increases several times.
Healthy adult [at rest] should have a systolic pressure below
120 and a diastolic pressure below 80

Physical inactivity
An inactive lifestyle is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent
heart and blood vessel disease. Physical activity can help
control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity
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
Obesity and overweight
People who have excess body fat — especially at the
waist are more likely to develop heart disease and
stroke even if they have no other risk factors.
Excess weight increases blood pressure and blood
cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers HDL
("good") cholesterol levels. It makes diabetes more
likely to develop

High Homocysteine
The blood level of homocysteine is 15 micromoles/L.
Increased level associated with cardiovascular
disease
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
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular
disease.
Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The risk will be more if blood sugar is not well
controlled.
About three-quarters of people with diabetes die of
some form of heart or blood vessel disease. It is
important to work with healthcare provider to manage it
and control any other risk factors you can.
Other factors contribute to heart disease risk
 Stress may be a contributing factor. For example,
people under stress may overeat, start smoking or
smoke more than they otherwise would.
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
Too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, cause heart
failure and lead to stroke.
It can contribute to high triglycerides, It contributes to
obesity, alcoholism,
Experts say that moderate intake is an average of one to
two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for
women.
One drink is defined as 1½ fluid ounces (fl oz) of 80proof spirits (such as Scotch, vodka, gin, etc.), 1 fl oz of
100-proof spirits, 4 fl oz of wine, or 12 fl oz of beer.
But drinking more than a moderate amount of alcohol
can cause heart-related problems such as high blood
pressure, stroke, irregular heartbeats, and
cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle)
Ref: Essentials of Biochemistry
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