It’s important to know the heart disease risk factors and how certain health conditions can affect your heart. Knowing your heart disease risk factors could save your life or the life of someone you love. Some of these risk factors include:
High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” because you may never experience symptoms. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to check your numbers and keep track of any major differences. Early treatment of high blood pressure is critical because it can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and other serious health problems.
While people with a family history of heart disease have a higher risk, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Work with your doctor to create a plan that aims to keep your heart healthy. This action plan may include a workout routine, ways to control cholesterol and blood sugar levels, eating healthy foods, tracking blood pressure numbers, maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking. Proper control and treatment of diabetes may reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. However, blood sugar levels still may increase your risk because the risk factors that contribute to diabetes contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. The overlapping risk factors include high blood pressure, being overweight, physical inactivity and smoking.
