This month our four Take Action Weeks include:
- Heart Disease 101
- Heart Health – Your Wellness Matters Infographic
- Are you at risk? Take the quiz.
- Cholesterol and Your Health
Heart Disease 101
Heart disease is a common term for coronary artery disease. It is the number one cause of death in both men and women over the age of 60 in the United States.
Causes
Heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis—a buildup of plaque in the inner walls of the arteries—which narrows, slows or blocks the flow of blood to the heart.
Risk Factors
Controllable risk factors for heart disease include the following:
- High blood pressure
- High LDL cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
- Smoking
- Being overweight or obese
- Lack of physical activity
- Using illegal drugs, such as cocaine
Warning Signs
The symptoms you experience depend on the type and severity of your heart condition. Common signs and symptoms of heart disease include the following:
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Heart palpitations
- Weakness or fatigue
Call your doctor if you begin to have new symptoms or if they become more frequent or severe.
Treatment
The goals of treatment for heart disease are to relieve symptoms, control or reduce risk factors, stop or slow further damage to the arteries, and prevent and treat cardiac events. Treatment includes several options:
- Self-care and prevention
- Medications
- Procedures to open blocked or narrowed arteries or to bypass them
- Cardiac rehabilitation
Self-care and Prevention
You can follow a healthy lifestyle to help prevent heart disease:
- Get regular medical check-ups.
- Don’t smoke.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Take medications as prescribed.
- If you are at a higher risk for heart disease, ask your doctor about low-dose aspirin therapy.
- Watch for signs of diabetes and see your doctor if you have any symptoms.
- Follow a diet low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.
- Limit sodium intake to 1,500 to 2,400 milligrams per day.
- Exercise regularly.
- Manage stress by practicing relaxation techniques.
- Drink alcohol in moderation. Check with your doctor to find out if and how much you should drink.
Heart Health – Your Wellness Matters Infographic
Learn more about heart health with this infographic.
Heart Disease Risk Quiz
Download this quiz to calculate your heart disease risk. Answer questions like:
1.What’s your blood pressure?
2. What’s your cholesterol?
3. How often do you eat fried foods?
4. Does anyone in your family have heart disease?
And more…
Cholesterol and Your Health
High cholesterol increases your chances of developing heart disease—the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in fats in your blood which your body needs to function. Having too much cholesterol, though, can be dangerous for your health.
What’s in a Number?
In the past, doctors thought that total cholesterol was a good indicator of one’s risk for heart disease, heart attack, diabetes and stroke. The lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) numbers and the higher your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) numbers, the better—or so they thought.
While measuring HDL, LDL and total cholesterol is helpful, many experts now believe that assessing the size of lipoprotein particles can also be beneficial.
The Lipoprotein Link
Research indicates that the blockage of arteries (which often leads to heart disease) is caused by the number and size of the lipoprotein particles that carry cholesterol throughout your body. These lipoprotein particles can build up in your arteries.
Think of it this way: These lipoproteins are the “cars” that carry “passengers” (cholesterol) along the “highways” (arteries)—it’s not the number of passengers in a car that causes a traffic jam (blocked artery), it’s the number of cars.
Your Particle Number
The number and particle size of lipoproteins in your blood are the measurements that can help your doctor determine your risk for heart attack, heart disease and stroke. Simple blood tests are available that can provide a more detailed look at how your particles measure up.
The number of LDL particles circulating in your blood is an important factor in evaluating your heart health. Generally, the lower your number of total LDL particles, and the larger the size of these particles, the lower your risk is for heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Getting Tested
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine cholesterol screenings for men over the age of 35 and women over the 45. Screenings may also be appropriate for younger adults who possess certain risk factors, such as a family history of cardiovascular disease.
By being proactive and seeking preventive care, you can help catch high cholesterol early and reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
