The Key to a Healthy Heart
The major Cardiovascular Risk Factors that increase your chance of getting heart disease include:
Elevated Blood Cholesterol Levels: A relationship exists between the amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood and the accumulation of fatty deposits on the artery walls, which can lead to restricted blood flow. Blood cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl is considered high risk, a level of 240 to 200 mg/dl is considered moderate risk and below 200 mg/dl is considered low risk. Your total level of cholesterol is comprised of two major components, HDL and LDL. HDL is considered a good component and LDL is considered bad. Your ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol is a factor in looking at your overall cholesterol level. LDL levels should not be above 130 mg/dl and HDL levels should not be below 35 mg/dl. Also pay close attention to your triglyceride levels.
High Blood Pressure: Blood pressure measures the pressure in the circulatory system when the heart is contracting and relaxing. During contraction this is called the systolic pressure and a level above 140 is considered high. During relaxation this is called diastolic pressure and a level above 90 is considered high. Normal resting blood pressure is about 120/80 mm Hg.
Family History of Coronary Heart Disease: This is especially important as you have no control over your family history. It could be social, lifestyle, diet and other characteristics in your family that included many risk factors for heart disease and created your poor family history or your family is genetically predisposed to certain conditions. It is especially important to minimize all other risk factors that you have control over.
Cigarette Smoking: Cigarette smoking also contributes to a variety of illnesses such as an increased risk of cancer and the inhalation of toxic chemicals. Cigarette smoking interferes with the oxygen carrying capability of the blood. The more you smoke the higher your risk.
Diabetes: Type I type diabetes is insulin dependent or juvenile-onset and is the result of insufficient insulin production from the pancreas. Type II diabetes is non-insulin dependent or adult onset and is caused by the unresponsiveness of the body tissues to insulin. This condition exists with blood glucose levels at or above 140 mg/dl during a fasting period.
Severe Obesity: Levels Body fat levels above 25% for males and 30% for females is considered obese.
Stressful Lifestyle: A lifestyle of consistent pressure and stress may contribute to heart disease. A lot of recent changes in your life can adversely affect your risk.
Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of regular appropriate physical activity has a debilitating effect on the body and contributes to other risk factors. We need to be conscious of these risk factors and take the necessary steps to reduce and eliminate them. In almost all risk factors, exercise and physical activity can have a positive physiological and psychological impact to reduce or remove the contributor to heart disease.
