There are many things that can raise your risk for heart disease. They are called risk factors. Some of them you cannot control, but there are many that you can control. Learning about them can lower your risk of heart disease. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
How to Prevent Heart Disease. Learn More Related Issues. See, Play and Learn No links available. Research Journal Articles. Resources Reference Desk Find an Expert. What are the heart disease risk factors that I cannot change?
Your risk of heart disease increases as you get older. Men age 45 and older and women age 55 and older have a greater risk. Some risk factors may affect heart disease risk differently in women than in men. For example, estrogen provides women some protection against heart disease, but diabetes raises the risk of heart disease more in women than in men. Race or ethnicity. Certain groups have higher risks than others.
African Americans are more likely than whites to have heart disease, while Hispanic Americans are less likely to have it. Family history. You have a greater risk if you have a close family member who had heart disease at an early age.
What can I do to lower my risk of heart disease? Once this happens, brain cells begin to die. Stroke is a disabling and potentially life-threatening condition and millions of Indians are at risk of it without their realization.
While the number of stroke patients continues to rise rapidly, like many other brain diseases, there is still a remarkable lack of awareness about it. Many a time this plaque makes it harder for blood to get to your heart, which leads to completely blocks blood flow.
Eventually, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Besides this, there are several other reasons which can lead to stroke, like unhealthy eating habits, lifestyle factor that increases the risk of death associated with the chronic diseases. Expert Explains. A pivotal study published in the journal Nature found that laughing expands the inner lining of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which improves your heart health and ultimately decreases your heart attack risk.
A little green space can do your heart a world of good. A review of research published in Current Epidemiology Reports in found that exposure to nature not only improves mental health, but it can also improve a person's cardiovascular health. According to the researchers, "higher levels of greenness were associated with lower risk of CVD, ischemic heart disease, and stroke mortality.
Getting the flu will do more than just eat up your sick days—it could contribute to your risk of a potentially fatal cardiovascular event. According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine , within the first seven days of a confirmed flu diagnosis , patients have a significantly increased risk of heart attack. All the more reason to get your flu shot! Time to cue up the Marvin Gaye and break out a good bottle of wine—for your heart health, of course.
As it turns out, not having regular sex could be contributing to your heart disease risk. A review of research published in the American Journal of Cardiology in found that having sex once a month or less increased a person's risk of cardiovascular disease, and thus, cardiovascular events. If you're over 40, it's time to make sure you're monitoring your blood sugar, especially if you have a family history of diabetes or risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, or a sedentary lifestyle.
Skipping the gym one too many times could be a big problem for your heart down the road. She notes that exercise can help lower your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and even stress levels, which decreases your likelihood of a heart attack. So, how much time should you be spending at the gym? According to the experts, 30 minutes of moderate activity a day—or minutes a week—will reduce your heart disease risk. However, that doesn't mean you should overdo it to the point of exhaustion or pain.
Because if you do, your heart could also pay the price. It can also lead to an increase in your body's stress response—high cortisol and adrenaline—and result in irregular heartbeat. From bad relationships to long hours at work, your daily stressors could have serious implications in terms of your heart health.
She adds that "long-term stress suppresses the immune system and allows [heart] disease to occur. If there's any way to get out from under a terrible boss , your heart will thank you. The dynamic of an overbearing manager who's always on your back for one thing or another might be doing more than just leaving you frustrated and irritable at the end of the day. The results of an oft-cited Swedish study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that people with uncommunicative, secretive, inconsiderate, and incompetent bosses increased their risk of having a severe cardiovascular event by 60 percent.
We've all been guilty of losing our temper from time to time, but it's in the best interest of your heart to try to manage how often you're losing your cool.
Regular feelings of anger have been linked to an increased heart attack risk, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal. The researchers behind the study found that episodes of intense anger were directly linked to a greater risk of acute heart occlusion, which obstructs blood flow to the heart. Addressing your depressive symptoms is the first step toward a healthier heart.
According to research published in Psychosomatic Medicine in , early treatment for depression can cut a person's risk of cardiovascular events in half. So if you're feeling blue, there's no time like the present to seek treatment to improve your mental health. Find ways to include activity throughout your day. Try to make exercise fun, too. There are plenty of ways to incorporate activity into your daily routine. Find out what works for you and stick with it.
Unfortunately, in addition to being burdensome, stress can put you at a higher risk for heart disease. Stress can raise your blood pressure, which puts more strain on your heart and arteries and cause permanent damage.
Stress can also lead to some unhealthy ways of coping, such as overeating, heavy drinking, and smoking — all of which are unhealthy for your heart. Some ways you can manage your stress include:.
Try to limit the amount of stress you experience on a daily basis — your heart will thank you for it. While the occasional glass of wine with dinner or beer with friends is okay, over-drinking can be dangerous for your heart.
It can increase your risk of heart disease by raising your blood pressure, which can cause damage to your heart and arteries over time. Alcohol can also lead to a high level of triglycerides, which are the most common type of fat in your body.
The calories in alcohol adds up. When your body has too many calories, it changes them into triglyceride, which can raise your risk of heart disease. The calories in alcohol can also make you gain weight, contributing to obesity — another risk factor for heart disease.
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