Heart Disease Information

Heart disease refers to a number of conditions that affect the heart muscle and its surrounding arteries. These include coronary artery disease – which may lead to angina and / or heart attack – heart failure and arrhythmia. Although it can and does affect women, heart disease is still of greater concern for men, particularly later in life. The major risk factors for heart disease include age, race, family history, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, tobacco use, lack of physical activity, obesity and stress. As of 2007, heart disease was the leading cause of death in the United States.

5 Things You Need to Know

  1. While moderate alcohol intake can actually lower your risk of heart disease, drinking too much alcohol raises your blood pressure, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. Furthermore, the American Heart Association does not recommend that nondrinkers start drinking or that regular drinkers increase their intake, even if it remains within the guidelines for moderate use.
  2. Diabetes mellitus significantly increases your chance of heart disease.
  3. Between 70 and 89 percent of sudden cardiac events occur in men.
  4. According to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine, a 10 percent decrease in total cholesterol levels may actually correlate to an up to 30 percent reduction in the development of coronary heart disease.
  5. A man’s risk of heart disease begins to increase significantly as early as age 45.

3 Questions You Need to Ask Your Doctor

  1. Am I at risk for heart disease? Your doctor can assess your personal and family health history in order to determine your level of risk.
  2. How can I reduce my risk? Some factors – age, race, family history – cannot be changed, but others can. Your doctor can suggest lifestyle changes – such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and increasing physical activity – and provide much-needed support and advice as you implement these changes in order to lower your risk of heart disease and improve your overall health.
  3. Am I a candidate for cholesterol-lowering medication? High cholesterol is a major contributor to heart disease. While changing your diet and getting more exercise can have an impact on your cholesterol levels, sometimes these changes are not enough. Your doctor can best determine whether or not a cholesterol-lowering medication would be right for you.

Also Known As: Coronary disease, heart failure, heart attack, coronary failure, stroke, cardiovascular heart disease, coronary artery disease

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