Heart Health Risk Factors

India being already declared as Diabetic capital of world is now at biggest risk to qualify for world heart disease capital status as well. Let us understand some of the factors driving this trend and how they affect us

Smoking l Smoking is a major reversible cause of heart disease. Smoking can cause several diseases such as atherosclerosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and emphysema, which put increased pressure on the heart. The AHA says that those exposed to secondhand smoke increase their risk of heart disease by 25 to 30 per cent. Hypertension l Hypertension can cause heart disease by overworking the heart. The heart must contract with greater force to push blood through constricted vessels. The American Heart Association says that about one in three people has hypertension and one-third of them do not know it. High Cholesterol l According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the higher the cholesterol, the higher the risk of heart disease. A level of less than 200 is desirable, 200-239 is borderline, and greater than 240 puts a person at twice the risk of a person with a level of 200. Diabetes l Having diabetes (uncontrolled or controlled) increases the risk of heart disease. According to the AHA, at least 65 per cent of all diabetics will die of heart disease. Obesity l The NHLBI says that obesity has three components: Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference and diseases associated with obesity. Those with a BMI of 30 and those who are overweight with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are at risk for heart disease. A waist measuring 40 inches or more in men and 35 inches or more in women represents an increased risk. Obesity is also associated with hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis, all of which are risks for heart disease. Inactivity l Inactivity increases the risk of obesity. Obesity spawns many secondary diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease. Uncontrollable Factors l The AHA lists uncontrollable risk factors as race, heredity and age. African-American men are at highest risk for heart disease. African-Americans are at highest risk, as well as those with a family history, men older than 35 years and post-menopausal women. l A recent study from Washington University in St Louis explain why more than 75 percent of diabetics die of heart disease (Journal for the American College of Cardiology, February 7, 2009). l Another study from Sweden shows that many people discover that they are diabetic only after they have had a heart attack. l Too much salt in your diet can lead to high blood pressure and increased risk of heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure is a chronic condition, and the damage it causes to blood vessels and organs generally occurs over years.