Reduce My Heart Disease Risk

The human heart is a complex and vital organ that beats tirelessly to keep us alive. Despite that, your heart is not invincible. It’s at risk of being exposed to heart diseases which can strike you at any age. Millions of people worldwide are affected by it. In Canada alone, about 01 in 12 (or 2.6 million) Canadian adults aged 20 and over live with diagnosed heart diseases.

Protecting your heart against diseases is crucial for maintaining good health and longevity. In order to do this, you need to understand what heart disease is in detail, including the different types of heart diseases, the symptoms, the cause, and how to prevent them.

What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease refers to a range of conditions that affect the heart. Different parts of your heart are involved, including the blood vessels, the electrical system, the heart muscle, and the valves.

Types of Heart Disease

There are several different types of heart disease:

• Aortic stenosis
• Arrhythmia
• Congenital heart defects
• Coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease)
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Heart failure
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Mitral valve prolapse
• Mitral valve regurgitation
• Myocardial infarction

All these different types of heart disease affect your blood vessels and heart in different ways. The most common one is coronary artery disease (also known as coronary heart disease). It occurs when the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood, nutrients, and oxygen become blocked or narrowed by a buildup of plaque, which in turn causes shortness of breath, chest pain, and even a heart attack. 

Symptoms of Heart Disease

The symptoms caused by heart disease vary depending on the specific condition, but some of the main symptoms include:

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Dizziness or lightheadedness 
• Cold sweats 
• Fatigue 
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat 
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the ankles, feet, and legs

Sometimes, you may have heart disease but you may not experience any symptoms. Therefore, it’s always better to be on the safe side and consult a doctor.

“Be smart and protect your heart.” 

Causes of Heart Disease

The causes of heart disease are complex and complicated. Some of them include:

• Age – As you age, your risk of developing heart disease increases.

• Diabetes – If you have diabetes, you’re at an increased risk of developing heart disease due to high blood sugar levels that can damage your blood vessels and nerves.  

• Family history – Genetics can play a role in the development of heart disease. You may have inherited genes that can increase your risk. 

• High blood pressure – If you have high blood pressure or hypertension, the walls of your arteries can get damaged. This in turn increases the workload of your heart, leading to heart disease. 

• High cholesterol – Having high levels of cholesterol in your blood causes a buildup of plaque in your arteries, which in turn narrows your blood vessels and increases your risk of heart disease.  
• Obesity – If you’re overweight or obese, you put extra strain on your heart. This causes high blood pressure and high cholesterol which in turn causes heart disease.

• Sedentary lifestyle – Lack of physical activity can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

“Cover those kilometers because your heart matters.” 

• Smoking – If you’re a smoker, you’re putting yourself at a very high risk of getting heart disease because it damages your blood vessels and makes them more prone to plaque buildup.

• Stress – If you’re under chronic stress, your blood pressure and inflammation in your body are most likely to increase, causing the risk of heart disease.

You need to remember that all these factors can connect with each other and contribute to your development of heart disease. Therefore, it’s time for you to take serious action in managing these risk factors so that you can prevent yourself from getting heart disease.

“Restart your life with a healthy heart.”

How can you Prevent Heart Disease?

• Control your cholesterol
• Eat a healthy diet
• Exercise regularly
• Get enough sleep
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Manage stress
• Manage your weight
• Quit smoking

If you adopt these healthy habits, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease so make sure to

“Do your part by caring for your heart.”