Heart Health
February has been designated as American Heart Month by the American Heart Association. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. Stroke is the third most common cause of death in this country. High blood pressure and blood cholesterol are two factors that affect heart disease.
Blood pressure varies depending on your activity. Some people have high blood pressure most or all of the time. This can lead to serious medical problems if it is not treated. The arteries can become thick and stiff and this speeds up the build up of cholesterol and fats in the arteries. It can eventually prevent the blood from flowing freely and lead to a heart attack or stroke. Hardening of the arteries is called arteriosclerosis. The arteries that carry blood to the heart can become blocked. When this happens the heart cannot receive enough oxygen. Either angina (chest pain) or a heart attack may occur. The kidneys can also be damaged by high blood pressure. Again, the blood vessels in the kidney narrow and thicken. The kidney then cannot filter as much fluid and can fail to the point of needing dialysis or a kidney transplant. If a blood clot forms in a narrowed artery that goes to the brain, a stroke may occur. A stroke may also occur when very high pressure causes a break in a weakened blood vessel in the brain.
Some people have a greater risk of high blood pressure. The risks factors include a family history of high blood pressure, men over age 40, women past menopause, African American heritage, obesity and physical inactivity.
You can decrease your risk of getting high blood pressure by following these guidelines: aim for a healthy diet, be physically active daily, choose and prepare food with less salt, eat at least five to nine fruits and vegetables daily and if you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation. Moderate drinking is one drink for women and two drinks for men per day. These are lifestyle changes, not a quick fix. They will need to be followed for the rest of your life.
High blood cholesterol also contributes to heart disease. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in your blood and deposits itself in arteries and vessels when these are an excess of it. High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms so many people are unaware that their level is too high. If you are over 20, your cholesterol should be measured at least once every five years. A lipoprotein profile is the name of the test and is best done after a 9 to 12 hour fast.
Cholesterol levels are affected by diet, weight and physical activity. A diet high in saturated fat (from animal products) and cholesterol make your blood cholesterol level rise. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet helps to lower your blood cholesterol level. Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease and it also increases your cholesterol. Losing weight can help lower your LDL (bad) and total cholesterol levels. Being physically active on a regular basis can help to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol. Three points that you cannot do anything about that also affect cholesterol levels are age and gender, and heredity. As we age our cholesterol levels rise. After menopause, women's LDL levels tend to rise. High blood cholesterol can run in families and your genes play a role in some families.
Triglycerides play a part in heart disease. They are another form of fat in food and should also be checked in a lipoprotein profile. Triglycerides are linked to coronary artery disease in some people. Treatment is similar to treatment for high cholesterol.
For more information see your physician and check the American Heart Association web site.