Heart disease risk factors refer to specific health conditions or lifestyle (habits) that have proven to increase the chances of developing a heart disease or worsen the situation if you are already suffering from it. Unfortunately, there are a couple of factors that are out of your control. You cannot change them, such as your age or family history of early heart disease. But, the good news is that you can avoid most other risk factors through proper awareness and by bringing a little modification in your lifestyle.
Smoking
Cigarette and tobacco smoking does not only increase the risk of lung cancer but it also greatly increases your risk of heart disease. Because of smoking, the blood flow is reduced in the arteries, which can eventually lead to a heart attack. Besides that, smoking also creates irregularities in the heartbeat rhythm, tightens major arteries, and increases heart rate. What is more, it even plays a major role in increasing your blood pressure. All of these conditions make your heart work much harder. Not just the nicotine but other chemicals and compounds like tar and carbon monoxide that are present in cigarette are also harmful to your heart in different ways.
High Blood Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol level is one of the major heart disease risk factors. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is found in each and every blood cell of your body. Liver produces the same in order to allow your body to make certain hormones and form cell membranes. However, excess cholesterol is harmful for your body, as it may even lead to heart disease. Too much of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) builds up plaque in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, which eventually puts you at an increased risk of having a heart attack.
Diabetes
People with diabetes problem are at much greater risk of developing certain heart diseases. A good control over blood sugar levels is very important in order to reduce the risk. Therefore, if you know that you are suffering from diabetes, you should be under a doctor’s care.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure or hypertension is also one of the major causes of heart disease. Most of the above risk factors may lead to hypertension but you can have it without having other risk factors also. Blood pressure mainly depends on two factors – your activities and your age.
Obesity And Overweight
Obesity and extra weight have been found to develop other risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Each of the above heart disease risk factors count but the situation can get more serious when the multiple factors group together. Besides the above major factors, there are certain contributing factors as well that you need to be aware of, such as alcohol, stress, and birth control pills. Though their exact roles have not been defined yet doctors think these factors can also lead to an increased risk of heart disease. Besides that, people who are not physically very active are also susceptible to heart disease.