The good news is that for most risk factors, you can do something about them. Risks you can control
Risks you can’t control
SMOKINGSmokers are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack compared with people who have never smoked. Stopping smoking is one of the best ways to prevent heart disease and it’s never too late to give up.How does smoking damage your heart?
Second-hand smoke When non-smokers breathe in second-hand smoke – also known as passive smoking – it can be harmful. Research shows that exposure to second hand tobacco smoke is a cause of heart disease in non-smokers, which means you could be harming the health of your children, partner and friends. Talk to your doctor or health practitioner about helping you to give up smoking. You can also call Quitline (13 7848) or visit the Quit website. For more information on smoking and your heart click here. To read more about the research conducted by Professor Geoffrey Tofler funded by Heart Research Australia regarding the cessation of smoking through personal identification click here.To sign up for a NSW health support program to quit smoking click here. HIGH BLOOD PRESSUREHigh blood pressure is often termed the ‘silent killer’ as it usually doesn’t present any symptoms. The only way to know whether you have high blood pressure is to have it measured regularly. Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the arteries. This pressure enables the heart to pump blood around the body. In the process known as circulation, the right side of the heart collects blood that has been used by the body, and pumps it into the lungs, to be re-oxygenated. The left side of the heart then pumps this oxygen-rich blood back through the body. Arteries carry oxygenated blood to the body, and veins carry the used blood back to the heart. The arteries are strong and elastic. This enables them to handle the pressure of the blood being pumped through them. How is blood pressure measured?
What is normal blood pressure? Acceptable blood pressure falls within a range, rather than being a specific pair of numbers. Blood pressure varies according to the body’s needs and activities. What is high blood pressure? Having high blood pressure increases your chance of having a heart attack or stroke. It’s very important to get your blood pressure checked regularly, and if it’s persistently high it needs to be controlled. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to a heart attack or stroke. What can I do to reduce my blood pressure? If you are diagnosed with high blood, your doctor is likely to encourage you to make some lifestyle changes to help reduce it. This may include increasing your physical activity, losing weight, reducing the salt in your diet, cutting down on alcohol and eating a balanced, healthy diet. If your blood pressure is very high or these lifestyle changes do not reduce it enough, your doctor is likely to prescribe you medication to control it and to reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. If you are already being treated for high blood pressure and have any concerns about it, you should make an appointment with your GP. Do not stop taking your medication unless your GP tells you to. HIGH CHOLESTEROLCholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood that comes from two sources: your body and food. Your body makes the required cholesterol it needs, but it can also be found in food from animal sources. Excess cholesterol can form plaque between layers of artery walls, making it harder for your heart to circulate blood, increasing you risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. You may not feel any signs of having high cholesterol, it is therefore important to have your cholesterol check regularly. Types of Cholesterol
Lowering your LDL can significantly decrease your risk of developing heart disease or a stroke. What causes high cholesterol?
How can I lower my cholesterol levels? DIABETESDiabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease. 280 Australians develop diabetes every day. That’s one person every five minutes. Diabetes is a disease marked by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. There is no cure, but symptoms can be controlled. If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop coronary heart disease than someone without diabetes. Types of diabetes Type two diabetes occurs when your body can’t produce enough insulin or the insulin doesn’t work properly. Type two diabetes is more common and tends to develop gradually as people get older – usually after the age of 40. It’s closely linked with:
What can I do to reduce my risk of developing diabetes? The great news is that doing these things will also make you less likely to develop other cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke – as well as being great for your general mental and physical wellbeing. How can I protect my heart if I already have diabetes? To do this you can:
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you may also need to take a cholesterol-lowering medicine such as statins to help protect your heart. For more information about Diabetes visit the Diabetes Australia website. PHYSICAL INACTIVITYTwo in every three adult Australians aged over 18 and over are either sedentary or have low levels of exercise. Being inactive increases your chance of heart disease – second only to smoking as a risk factor. If you are inactive, you are almost twice as likely to suffer coronary heart disease, compared to those who get enough exercise. It can also help you control your weight, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and improve your mental health – helping you to look and feel great. Australia’s physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines for adults recommend:
To view a gentle walking program to get your healthy heart journey started click here. BEING OVERWEIGHTIn Australia, 1 in 4 children and 2 in 3 adults are overweight or obese. Carrying excess body fat can have a serious impact on your health. It’s a risk factor for heart disease, and it can also increase your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, arthritis, and certain types of cancer. Fortunately, this is a risk factor you can control and change! How does my weight affect my health?
Because these are risk factors for coronary heart disease, your weight can have a big impact on your long-term health. Even if you don’t have any of these conditions, it’s important to keep to a healthy weight so you don’t develop them in future. What is a healthy weight The best way to find out if your weight is a health risk is to check with your doctor. These tools from The Heart Foundation Australia can also serve as a guide:
To maintain a healthy weight it’s important to eat well and exercise regularly. Click here to visit our Heart Hub for more information. Unfortunately, there are an increasing number of people presenting to the emergency department of hospitals experiencing a heart attack, with none of the traditional modifiable risk factors such as genetics, smoking, and hypertension. Heart Research Australia is helping fund the work of Professor Gemma Figtree in increasing the understanding of why more and more people are suffering from heart disease with no known risk factors. Having these answers will help improve early identification of heart disease beyond traditional risk factor assessment and help guide personalised preventative treatment. To read more about this work click here.References:
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