Risk Factors For Acquiring Heart Disease

 

There are several risk factors for developing heart disease; high LDL cholesterol is just one. Genealogy plays a significant role. Should your father have had heart disease or heart stroke prior to age 55 or your mother had a heart attack or heart stroke prior to 65, you have a higher risk. The same increased risk factor applies if your siblings had heart attacks or cerebral vascular accidents in those age brackets. Hypertension, smoking cigarettes, diabetic issues, chronic kidney disease, being 30% or even more over your ideal body mass (as determined by your BMI), metabolic syndrome, resulting in a sedentary lifestyle, HDL of less than 40 mg/dL and women with early menopause all raise your heart attack and stroke risk factors. A previous personal history of any kind of cardiac event also puts you at a greater risk of experiencing a heart attack or heart stroke.

Offsetting factors

There are various positive factors which help offset risk factors. High levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol are extremely effective in preventing heart problems or at least offsetting risk factors. The Framingham research as well as others have suggested that for every single point increase in HDL, there is a corresponding drop in your risk of having a heart attack by 2%-3%. Some people are just plain fortunate and are born with high HDL. Others are not so lucky and find it difficult to increase their HDL and even with excessive physical activity are helpless to increase it. HDL below 40 is considered a risk factor. HDL of over 60 is regarded as a positive factor for heart problems. Total cholesterol readings are not the best barometer of cardiovascular disease risk. Although high HDL levels and low LDL levels aren't any guarantee, your risk factors are most assuredly reduced with high HDL and further lowered with low LDL levels. Overall or total high cholesterol levels are less accurate as a predictor but most often a high total cholesterol reading is due to high LDL.

Physical exercise a preventive for heart problems

Constant exercise or work out is a very real and efficient way to reduce the risk of heart attacks and cerebral vascular accidents. Cardio workout is the best way to strengthen your heart muscle, increase HDL levels and lower blood pressure level. To get the most heart health advantage out of any exercise routine, you should get your pulse rate elevated. If you have not exercised for an extended time period and otherwise lead an inactive lifestyle, you ought to consult your health practitioner before starting any exercise program. Once you have been given the go ahead you still have to start slow and increase your physical effort at a rate you are comfortable with for two reasons. Firstly is your muscles as well as your heart require time to build up. Trying to do it all at one time will make you sore and may not be the smartest for your heart. Another factor to consider is that if you hurt yourself by using muscles and tendons that are not used to that type of intense use, you might end up with injuries or be so tender that you don't feel like staying consistent with your exercise routine. Regularity is an essential aspect. You will improve your conditioning rapidly if you are regular with your newly found exercise routine.

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