Heart disease is the No. 1 worldwide killer of men and women. Heart disease is a broad term used to describe diseases that affect your heart and blood vessels. There are a number of diseases that fall under the category of heart disease, such as coronary artery disesase, heart rhythm problems, and heart defects.
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, generally refers to a condition that involves a narrowing or blocking of blood vessels. This prevents oxygen and nutrients to get to the heart, which leads to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke.
Some may be at higher risk of developing heart disease based on the following factors:
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Being physically inactive
- Having a family history or early heart disease
- Age (55 or older for women, 65 or older for men)
While certain risk factors cannot be changed, such as age and family history, it is important to recognize that many of the others can be controlled. Lowering your risk of heart disease can be as simple as adding a brisk 15-20 minute walk into your break every day, monitoring food intake of higher fat and cholesterol during meal times and snacks, or finding a support system to help maintain a healthy weight.
Making the changes to your life style do not need to be made all at once. Gradually adding one at a time will make the adjustment less painful and easier to follow through.
Source: www.nhlbi.nih.gov
