risk factors for cardiovascular diseases

Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are

non modifiable risk factors and modifiable risk factora

non-modifable risk factors

age, gender, genes

modifiable risk factors

diet
stress
obesity
smoking
drinking alcohol

Age as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases increases with age due to blood vessels losing their elasticity becoming more fragile and plaque building up over time, increasing blood pressure and sets up the events leading to a heart attack

Gender as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

premenopausal women are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases due to the hormone oestrogen which appears to reduce the build up of plaque and gives protection from cardiovascular diseases until they go through menopause and oestrogen levels fall

Genes as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

Individuals can inherit alleles making them have arteries that are easily damaged, a tendency to develop hypertension which can cause arterial damage and make cardiovascular diseases more likely and problems with cholesterol balance of the body

Diet and obesity as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

A diet in saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels, increasing atheroma formation and therefore thrombosis. A diet high in salt increases blood pressure which increases the risk of damage to the endothelial cells of the blood vessels increasing the risk of plaque formation.
Obesity leads to type 2 diabetes which result in the damage of the endothelium of blood vessels increasing plaque formation

Smoking as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin in red blood cells, reducing its oxygen carrying capacity. This decreases respiration in the cells of the brain and heart which can lead to stroke and heart attack
Nicotine causes increased risk of thrombosis by increasing the agglutination of platelets
Smoking decreases the levels of protective chemicals called antioxidants in the blood, increasing the risk of damage to the cells lining the arteries, leading to atheroma formation and therefore thrombosis

High blood pressure as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

increases risk of damage to artery walls, increasing atheroma formation and therefore thrombosis

Benefits of exercise

lowers the risk of developing atherosclerosis and CVDs
helps lower blood pressure
helps to prevent obesity
helps to prevent diabetes
helps to balance lipoproteins
helps to reduce pressure
helps lower blood cholesterol levels

Diastolic

the pressure emitted when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood

Systolic

the pressure emitted by the heart on the artery walls when the heart is contracting