The Risk Factors of Coronary Heart Disease

The Thoratec Patient's Glossary defines Coronary Heart Disease: "A disease in which plaque deposits containing cholesterol atherosclerosis and fat globules are accumulated within the intima”, the innermost layer of an artery. The plaque continues building in the inner media of the large and medium-sized arteries, throughout which most of the blood passes, and these arteries become smaller, giving the heart a greater chance to have an attack because of ‘passage’ problems.

Risk factors such as age, gender, and race are to be considered when discussing coronary heart disease. The older you are, the more likely you are to have a heart attack. Coronary heart disease causes eighty-three percent of all deaths of people over age 65. If you're male, you are expected to have more heart problems in general. You’re also prone to having them at a younger stage in life. Vulnerability to coronary heart disease, if you're of African descent, is dramatically increased. None of these factors can be changed; become familiar with all of your family health backgrounds, and what sort of inherent risks they may pose. Be mindful of things that need change.

Smoking is at the top of this list. A smoker is four times likely to contact coronary heart disease than a non-smoker. Therefore, you are twice as likely to develop other heart problems. Cigarette smokers are at an even greatest risk than cigar and pipe smokers. Also, second hand smoke increases the risk just as much as if you were smoking yourself.

High cholesterol, in particular blood cholesterol, can put you at risk to having coronary heart disease. Obesity and Inactivity are two more defining factors toward heart disease. (Obesity is defined as being more than twenty pounds over your heights most natural weight level.) You can help yourself with exercise; exercise helps control all of these factors, and can help lower the risks that are presented by high blood pressure; high blood pressure can, in turn, harden heart tissue, making a heart attack more likely to occur.

Another serious risk factor is Diabetes. Although diabetes does increase the risk for heart attacks and strokes, a proper diet can manage your blood sugar levels, and can seriously decrease the probability that you'll suffer from heart disease.

Prevention of this form of heart disease can be maximized by keeping your smoking, drinking, and eating habits under control. This is one effort you can definitely add to your daily schedule if you want the best out of life.

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