Heart disease is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, requiring several people to undergo heart blockage treatment. Several factors might increase your risk of heart disease. They are known as risk factors. Some of them are beyond your control, but many can be controlled, and being aware of them can help you lower your chances of getting heart disease.
What are risk factors for heart disease that might require a heart blockage treatment that I cannot change?
- Age – As you become older, your chances of developing heart disease rise. Men aged 45 and up, and women aged 55 and up are at a higher risk.
- Gender – Some risk factors may impact women’s risk of heart disease differently from the risks faced by men. For instance, estrogen protects women against heart disease, but diabetes raises the risk of heart disease in women more than it does in males.
- Ethnicity or race – Certain groups face more significant dangers than others. African Americans have a higher probability than whites to develop heart disease, whereas Hispanic Americans are less likely. Some Asian populations have lower rates, such as East Asians, whereas South Asians have greater rates of heart disease.
- History of the family – If you have a close family member who has had heart disease at a younger age, you are at a higher risk.
Methods for lowering your chance of acquiring heart disease
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to lower your risk of developing heart disease requiring heart blockage treatment:
- Maintain healthy blood pressure – High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is essential to have your blood pressure checked regularly, at least once a year for the majority of people, and more frequently if you have a condition of high blood pressure. Take efforts to completely avoid or control high blood pressure, including dietary and lifestyle modifications.
- Maintain a healthy and balanced cholesterol and triglycerides level – High cholesterol levels can cause arterial blockage, increasing the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart blockage treatment. Cholesterol levels can be lowered by dietary changes and medication (if necessary). Triglycerides, a kind of fat present in the blood, and excessive triglyceride levels, especially in women, may increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
- Maintain a healthy weight and diet – Obesity might raise your risk of heart disease. This is primarily due to the association of obesity with other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, diabetes, and high blood pressure. These hazards can be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight. Additionally, limit your consumption of saturated fats, sodium-rich meals, and added sweets. Instead, consume lots of vegetables, fresh fruits, and healthy grains. An example of an eating plan is the DASH diet, which can assist you in lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure, and both of which can reduce your risk of heart disease and requiring heart blockage treatment.
- Exercise regularly – Exercise offers several advantages, including the ability to strengthen your heart and improve blood circulation. It can also aid in balancing a healthy weight and the reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure. All these changes can assist you with reducing your risk of heart disease.
- Consume alcohol in moderation and quit smoking – Excessive alcohol use might increase your blood pressure. It also adds calories, which may lead to weight gain. Both increase your chances of developing heart disease and requiring heart blockage treatment. Men are advised to consume a maximum of two alcoholic beverages per day, and women should have no more than one.
Additionally, cigarette smoking elevates blood pressure and increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. If you smoke, stopping reduces your chance of heart disease. You can get help from your health care practitioner in determining the best approach for you to quit.
- Control your tension – Stress is linked to heart disease in various ways, including the ability to raise blood pressure. Excessive stress can be a “trigger” for a heart attack, requiring heart blockage treatment. Furthermore, several prevalent stress-relieving behaviors, such as overeating, heavy drinking, and smoking are harmful to your heart. Exercise, listening to music, focusing on something quiet or serene, and meditation are all strategies to help manage stress.
- Diabetes should be managed – Diabetes increases the risk of diabetic heart disease by a factor of two. This is because diabetes-related high blood sugar can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that regulate your heart and blood vessels over time. As a result, it is critical to get tested for diabetes and, if diagnosed, to keep it under control.
- Ensure you get adequate rest – If you don’t get enough sleep, you increase your chances of developing high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. These three factors can increase your risk of heart disease that makes you require heart blockage treatment. Ensure that you have a regular sleeping pattern as the average adult needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Contact your health care physician if you experience chronic sleep issues. Sleep apnea, for example, leads patients to stop breathing short numerous times during the night. This disturbs and interferes with your ability to sleep well and may increase your risk of heart disease. If you suspect you have it, consult your doctor about having a sleep study. And if you do have sleep apnea, make sure you get it treated.
These are 8 tips to help you in reducing your risks of acquiring heart disease. Hope they are helpful.
