Chapter 10 – Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke
There are a variety of contributing factors that influence risk of cardiovascular disease. Some of these factors are under a persons control, like choosing to participate in regular physical activity or use tobacco products. Other factors are not under a persons control.
Non-COntrollable factors for Heart Disease
The following traits increase risk of heart disease but cannot be modified:
- Age – As a person ages there is higher risk for CVD. There is a strong correlation with CVD and age. Although, with males, the risk seems to be when they are younger and females seem to be at higher risk post-menopausal.
- Sex – Males are higher risk for CVD, especially at younger ages. Women can be at high risk in later parts of their lives.
- Race – African Americans have the highest risk factor for CVD
- Family History/ Race – This can be one of the strongest predictors of CVD, but also has the smallest correlation to CVD overall.
COntrollable factors for Heart Disease
Fortunately, there are other lifestyle factors that can be managed to lower risk of heart disease:
- Tobacco – The strongest predictor of CVD is the use tobacco. The use of tobacco accounts for 30% of CVD risk. There is a significant reduction in risk for those who don’t use tobacco.
- Obesity – Those that have a BMI greater than 30 have a higher than normal risk than those that do not have a BMI greater than 30. “The “obesity epidemic” experienced by the United States over the past several decades threatens to reverse important progress against heart disease. The NIH has undertaken several efforts to prevent or reduce obesity in children and young adults, including a set of randomized trials to identify effective approaches in individuals and a large project to evaluate community approaches to reduce obesity in children (NIH, 2017)”
- Diet – CVD can be correlated to a high intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. Risk of dietary cholesterol intake can be correlated to atherosclerosis.
- Diabetes – This condition is viewed as seriously as any of the other controllable factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. In fact, those with Type II diabetes, have the same level of risk for a heart attack as those who have already had a heart attack.
Social Factors
- Environment
- Access to health care
- Income
- Social Isolation
Testing for risk factors associate with heart disease risk may include one or more of the following:
Lipoprotein Profile
- What: A blood test that measures total cholesterol, LDL “bad” cholesterol, HDL “good” cholesterol, and triglycerides (another form of fat in the blood). The test is given after a 9- to 12-hour fast.
- Why: To find out if you have any of the following: high blood cholesterol (high total and LDL cholesterol), low HDL cholesterol, or high triglyceride levels. All affect your risk for heart disease.
- When: All healthy adults should have a lipoprotein profile done at least once every 5 years. Depending on the results, your doctor may want to repeat the test more frequently.
Blood Pressure
- What: A simple, painless test using an inflatable arm cuff.
- Why: To find out if you have high blood pressure (also called hyper- tension) or prehypertension. Both are risk factors for heart disease.
- When: At least every 2 years, or more often if you have high blood pressure or prehypertension.
Fasting Plasma Glucose
- What: The preferred test for diagnosing diabetes. After you have fasted overnight you will be given a blood test the following morning
- Why: To find out if you have diabetes or re likely to develop the disease. Fasting Plasma glucose levels of 126mg/dL or higher in two tests on different days means that you have diabetes. Levels between 100 and 125 mg/dL mean you have an increased risk of developing diabetes and may have prediabetes. Diabetes is an important risk factor for heart disease and other medical disorders.
- When: At least every 3 years, beginning at the age of 45. If you have risk factors for diabetes you should be tested at a younger and more frequently.
