Risk Factors
Over 13 million Americans have had angina, a heart attack, or both. Each year, an estimated 1.2 million people will experience a serious heart event. About 25% of all Americans have one or more risk factors for heart disease. Most risk factors for heart disease are related to lifestyle and environmental factors.
Over the past decades, heart disease rates declined in both men and women as they quit smoking and improved dietary habits. This rate, however, has stabilized in recent years, most likely because of the dramatic increase in obesity in the U.S. and other industrialized nations. There have also been minimal changes in other risk factors, including smoking, sedentary behavior, and blood pressure control. Some risk factors cannot be changed, including age, gender, and genetics. Nevertheless, their effects can still be modified with healthy lifestyle changes.
Guidelines for Preventing Heart Disease and StrokeThe American Heart Association guidelines for preventing heart disease recommend: Improve Cholesterol. People with at least two risk factors and a 10-year risk for heart disease or stroke of more than 20% should aim for LDL levels of less than 100 mg/dl. Statins are now used in more cases. Keep Blood Pressure Low. People in normal health should have a blood pressure reading of 120/80 mm Hg or less. According to the latest guidelines, blood pressure readings of 120/80 are considered normal, readings of 140/90 or higher indicate hypertension, and readings in between the two are called pre-hypertension. Patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease should maintain blood pressure readings of 130/80 mm Hg or less, while others should be no higher than 140/90 mm Hg. Exercise. Everyone in normal health should engage in at least moderate physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes on most, if not all, days of the week. Healthy Diet. Everyone should aim for a diet that contains a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, nuts, legumes, poultry, lean meat, and low-fat dairy items. Avoid saturated fats and trans-fatty acids. Quit Smoking. Also avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Maintain Weight. People should aim for a BMI index of 18.5 to 24.9. Taking Aspirin. People whose risk for heart disease within 10 years is 10% or more should take a low-dose aspirin every day, unless they have medical reasons to avoid aspirin. Control Diabetes. People with diabetes should aim for fast blood glucose levels of less than 110 mg/dl and hemoglobin A1C or less than 7%. Control Atrial Fibrillation. People with atrial fibrillation should use anticoagulants to reduce the risk for blood clots. |
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