Risk Factors

Research in the twentieth century has showed that there are several risk factors that increase the incidence of Coronary Artery Disease. Even if heart disease is treated with medication or by surgery, the recurrence of heart disease can be avoided or controlled only if these risk factors are eliminated.

There are some risk factors over which we have no control. They are:

• Age: As you age you are more susceptible to heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, four out of five people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older.
  
  

• Sex: Males are more prone to heart disease than females. The female hormone oestrogen is protective to the heart. After menopause women produce less oestrogen. This exposes them to some risk of heart disease. However, men are at greater risk than women to heart disease.
  
  

• Family History of Heart Disease: If any member of your family (parent or sibling) has had heart disease, especially at an early age( men below 55 and women below 65) you are at more risk than those who have no family history of heart disease.
  
  

• Personal History of heart and related ailments: If you have suffered a heart attack or stroke, you are more at risk of having another cardiac event. You are also at risk if you are hypertensive or diabetic, but these factors can be controlled.
  
  

• Race: It has been observed that risk of coronary heart disease is greater in some races. Asian Indians seem to be more susceptible than some other races, Caucasians for instance.
  
  

The risk factors that can be controlled:

• Diabetes: Persistent high blood sugar level can damage small blood vessels. It may also begin to affect the bigger ones in the long run. About two-thirds of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. More on Diabetes
  
  

• High Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a fatlike, steroid alcohol. The body makes cholesterol and cholesterol is also acquired from foods like animal fats, oils, milk, and yolk of egg. Excess cholesterol in the blood can be deposited in artery walls, contributing to a progressive disease called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. As arteries narrow and harden, blood flow is restricted and the heart needs to pump harder to do its job. A serum total cholesterol level greater than 5.2 mmol/l (200 mgs/dl) is not desirable. More about Cholesterol
  
  

• High blood pressure:High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken. It also increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.

  The desirable range for blood pressure is 100/70 –140/90. More on Hypertension
  
  

• Obesity: Excess weight increases the strain on the heart. It also raises blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers HDL cholesterol levels. People who are obese or overweight are at risk of many medical conditions. Risk of cardiac disease can be reduced if people who are overweight can reduce weight.Check your heart risk.
  
  

• Smoking: Smokers are at higher risk of heart disease than non smokers. If you have any other risk factors for heart disease, smoking compounds the risk of a heart attack. Smoking also contributes to high blood pressure and low HDL ("good") cholesterol, which are themselves risk factors for heart disease.
  
  

• Too much alcohol: Consumption of too much alcohol can put your heart at risk. It can raise blood pressure. It can contribute to high triglycerides, cancer and other diseases, and produce irregular heartbeats.
  
  

• Stress: Stress affects different people in different ways. There is no documentation on the presence of direct relation between heart disease and stress. However, we observe that people under stress are likely to be hypertensive and tend to smoke or overeat or use this as an excuse to consume alcohol, which are factors that might increase risk of heart disease. Personality factors, environmental and psychological stressors may also play a part in increasing risk of heart disease.