1403- bioche cvs risk factors

coronary heart disease:

The arteries to the heart muscle (myocardium) are narrowed leads to reduced blood supply to the heart can result in chest pain (angina pectoris)

If a narrowed blood vessel is completely blocked by a blood clot, the area of the heart just beyond the blockage is denied oxygen and nourishment, resulting in a heart attack (MI)

Ten risk factors help to predict the likelihood of CHD

Heredity

2. Gender

3. Age

4. Cigarette smoking

5. High blood pressure

6. Diabetes

7. Obesity

8. Lack of physical activity

9. Abnormal blood cholesterol

10.Homocysteine levels

Major risk factors [can't be changed]

Age — Over 83 percent of people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older

• Gender — Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women do.

• Heredity (including Race) — Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves.

African Americans have more severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and a higher risk of heart disease.

This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes.

Most people with a strong family history of heart disease have one or more other risk factors.

Major risk factors [can be modified]

Tobacco smoke

Smokers' risk of developing coronary heart disease is 2–4 times that of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is a powerful independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary heart disease.

• High blood cholesterol

Risk of coronary heart disease increases when blood cholesterol rises.

When other risk factors (high BP and tobacco smoke) are present, this risk increases even more.

Total blood cholesterol is classified by levels:

Desirable: under 200 mg/dL

Borderline: 200-239 mg/dL

High risk: 240 mg/dL and above

LDL Cholesterol

Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL

Near or above optimal: 100-129 mg/dL

Borderline high: 130-159 mg/dL

High: 160-189 mg/dL (high risk)

Very high: 190 mg/dL and above (very high risk)

• HDL Cholesterol

Major heart disease risk factor: less than 40 mg/dL

Protection against heart disease: 60 mg/dL and Above

High blood pressure (BP)

High BP increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to thicken and become stiffer. It also increases stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. When high BP exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.

Healthy adult [at rest] should have a systolic pressure below 120 and a diastolic pressure below 80

Physical inactivity

Inactive lifestyle is a risk factor for coronary heart

disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical

activity helps prevent heart and blood vessel

disease. Physical activity can help control blood

cholesterol, diabetes and obesity

Obesity and overweight

People with excess body fat — especially at the waist are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors.

Excess weight increases blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers HDL cholesterol levels. It makes diabetes more likely to develop

High Homocysteine

The blood level of homocysteine is 15 micromoles/L.

Increased level associated with cardiovascular disease

Diabetes mellitus

Increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

o Increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Uncontrolled blood sugar increases risk more.

About three-quarters of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. It is important to work with healthcare provider to manage it and control any other risk factors you can.

Other factors contribute to heart disease risk

Stress may be a contributing factor. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would.

• Too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. It can contribute to high TG and obesity.