Heart Attack Risk Factors
Certain factors contribute to the unwanted buildup of fatty deposits that narrows arteries throughout your body, including arteries to your heart. You can improve or eliminate many of these risk factors to reduce your chances of having a first or subsequent heart attack. Heart attack risk factors include:
Age: In men who are 45 or older and women who are 55 older are more likely to have a heart attack than are younger men and women.
Obesity: Being overweight, and especially having a big belly, has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack.
Smoking: Smoking and long-term exposure to secondhand smoke damage the interior walls of arteries including arteries to your heart allowing deposits of cholesterol and other substances to collect and slow blood flow. Smoking can increase the risk of deadly blood clots forming and causing a heart attack.
Hypertension: High blood pressure is a major risk factor for the heart attack, and especially stroke. Hypertension is very common in Americans over age of 55, but is commonly inadequately treated.
High blood cholesterol: Cholesterol is a major part of the deposits that can narrow arteries through your body, including those that supply your heart. A high level of the wrong kind of cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of a heart attack. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol ) is most likely to narrow arteries. A high level of triglycerides, another type of blood fat related to your diet, also ups your risk of heart attack. However, a high level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ( the "good" cholesterol), which helps the body clean up excess cholesterol, is desirable and lowers your risk of heart attack.
Diabetes: Diabetes is the inability of your body to adequately produce insulin or respond to insulin need properly. Insulin, a hormone secreted by your pancreas, allows your body to use glucose, which is a form foods. Diabetes, especially uncontrolled diabetes, increases your risk of heart attack.
Lack of physical activity: An inactive lifestyle contributes to high blood cholesterol levels and obesity. People who get regularly aerobic exercise have better cardiovascular fitness, which decreases their overall risk of heart attack. Exercise is also beneficial in lowering high blood pressure.
Certain factors contribute to the unwanted buildup of fatty deposits that narrows arteries throughout your body, including arteries to your heart. You can improve or eliminate many of these risk factors to reduce your chances of having a first or subsequent heart attack. Heart attack risk factors include:
Age: In men who are 45 or older and women who are 55 older are more likely to have a heart attack than are younger men and women.
Obesity: Being overweight, and especially having a big belly, has been associated with an increased risk of heart attack.
Smoking: Smoking and long-term exposure to secondhand smoke damage the interior walls of arteries including arteries to your heart allowing deposits of cholesterol and other substances to collect and slow blood flow. Smoking can increase the risk of deadly blood clots forming and causing a heart attack.
Hypertension: High blood pressure is a major risk factor for the heart attack, and especially stroke. Hypertension is very common in Americans over age of 55, but is commonly inadequately treated.
High blood cholesterol: Cholesterol is a major part of the deposits that can narrow arteries through your body, including those that supply your heart. A high level of the wrong kind of cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of a heart attack. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol ) is most likely to narrow arteries. A high level of triglycerides, another type of blood fat related to your diet, also ups your risk of heart attack. However, a high level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ( the "good" cholesterol), which helps the body clean up excess cholesterol, is desirable and lowers your risk of heart attack.
Diabetes: Diabetes is the inability of your body to adequately produce insulin or respond to insulin need properly. Insulin, a hormone secreted by your pancreas, allows your body to use glucose, which is a form foods. Diabetes, especially uncontrolled diabetes, increases your risk of heart attack.
Lack of physical activity: An inactive lifestyle contributes to high blood cholesterol levels and obesity. People who get regularly aerobic exercise have better cardiovascular fitness, which decreases their overall risk of heart attack. Exercise is also beneficial in lowering high blood pressure.
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