What are the main risk factors for heart disease, the biggest cause of mortality in the US?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(opens
in new tab), heart disease is the number one killer in the United States,
killing 1 in 5 people (CDC). According to the Mayo Clinic, it includes a
variety of ailments such as blood vessel disorders like coronary artery
disease, issues with heart rhythm, and congenital heart anomalies (opens in new
tab). Numerous risk factors for heart disease interact with one another: For
instance, stress raises blood pressure, but so do obesity and smoking, both of
which put more stress on the heart.
Here are nine factors that raise the risk of heart disease,
ranging from high cholesterol to a sedentary lifestyle.
1.SMOKING
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| smoking is a major risk factor that results in 1 in 4 fatalities from cardiovascular disease |
According to the CDC, smoking is a major risk factor that results in 1 in 4 fatalities from cardiovascular disease (opens in new tab). According to the CDC, heart disease symptoms can appear in smokers of as few as five cigarettes per day. The CDC reported that more than 33,000 Americans die each year from heart disease brought on by exposure to secondhand smoke. Non-smokers can also be at risk if they are regularly around smokers.
According to the Mayo Clinic, smoking contributes to atherosclerosis,
which is the development of plaques, fat, and other substances within the
artery walls (opens in new tab). According to the CDC, chemicals in cigarettes
can also lead to vascular inflammation, which further reduces blood flow.
2.OVERWEIGHT OR OBESITY
Even in the absence of additional risk factors like diabetes or
hypertension, those who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop
heart disease. However, a 2021 review published in the journal
Circulation(opens in new tab) discovered that obesity also raises the risk of
type 2 diabetes and hypertension, which are distinct risk factors in and of
themselves. Although the exact reason why having a high body mass index (BMI)
may increase the risk of heart disease is unclear, it is known that obesity can
lead to internal inflammation, which raises the risk of cardiovascular disease.
3. A SEDENTARY
LIFESTYLE
According to the British Heart Foundation(opens in new tab), a sedentary
lifestyle (when a person spends too much time participating in activities that
expend little energy) can be a risk factor for the development of heart disease
(BHF). According to the BHF, regular exercise lowers the chance of developing
several heart and circulation disorders by up to 35% by lowering blood
pressure, strengthening the heart, and controlling blood sugar levels.
4.DIABETES
The risk of heart disease is increased by both type 1 and type 2
diabetes. According to the CDC, diabetes causes elevated blood glucose levels
that, when sustained over time, can harm blood vessels and the nerves that
control the heart (opens in new tab). According to the CDC, diabetes also
raises the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol, both of which increase
the likelihood of developing heart disease.
5.HIGH CHOLESTEROL
According to Dr. Daniel Sado(opens in new tab), a consultant cardiologist
for King's College Hospital in the UK and the director of the cardiac magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) programme at London Bridge Hospital, a division of HCA
Healthcare UK, coronary artery disease is "one of the most common types of
heart disease."
"It leads to your coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle
with blood, [being] clogged with fatty deposits known as atheroma," Sado
stated in an email to Live Science. This could mean that your heart muscle does
not get the amount of blood it needs to function properly.
At King's College Hospital, a premier teaching and research hospital in
London, Dr. Daniel Sado is a cardiology consultant and serves as the program's
lead for the cardiac MRI programme. Additionally, he serves as the cardiology
co-leader for the King's College Hospital myocarditis clinic and the lengthy
COVID services in South East London. In addition to general cardiology, Sado's
areas of expertise include hereditary heart problems, heart failure, heart
imaging, and cardiac treatment for cancer patients. He also works as a
consultant cardiologist at HCA Healthcare UK's London Bridge Hospital.
Low-density lipoproteins, or so-called "bad" cholesterol, are
what cause these atheromas to form (LDL). According to the CDC, LDL can
accumulate in the arteries and limit blood flow, increasing pressure on the
heart (opens in new tab).
Total blood cholesterol of 200 milligrammes per deciliter or higher is
considered to be "high cholesterol." However, as readings are also
provided individually, this is the total of HDL and LDL cholesterol. According
to WebMD, if a person has high cholesterol due to high HDL levels, their health
may not necessarily be in risk (opens in new tab). On the other side, high LDL
levels could be problematic.
6.GENETICS
Genes can increase a person's chance for cardiomyopathy, a word used to refer to conditions that affect the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy can take many distinct forms, according to Sado. "Several have genetic roots. The heart muscle can occasionally be overly thick, have trouble contracting, or stiffen up, making it difficult for it to relax after receiving blood."
According to Sado, these illnesses might manifest in a variety of ways.
There are treatments that can help control symptoms and lower the risk of
heart failure even if cardiomyopathy cannot be cured. The BHF lists these as
cutting back on alcohol use, switching to unsaturated fats from saturated fats,
engaging in regular exercise, and minimising stress.
7.SEX
According to Sado, coronary artery disease, one of the most prevalent
forms of heart disease, kills 1 in 8 men and 1 in 14 women in the United States
each year.
High testosterone levels prior to menopause, rising blood pressure
throughout menopause, stress, and depression are some of the heart disease risk
factors that are specific to women or can affect them disproportionately,
according to John Hopkins Medicine(opens in new tab).
According to a 2013 publication in the Arab Journal of Urology, erectile
dysfunction (ED) can serve as a precursor to cardiovascular disease in men
(opens in new tab). The research found that younger men with ED but no cardiac
symptoms were at a considerably greater risk.
8.AGE
Age is yet another uncontrollable risk factor for heart disease.
Dr. John Whyte(opens in new tab), the chief medical officer at WebMD,
stated that males typically get heart disease in their 50s and women in their
60s.
Two out of every ten persons who die of coronary heart disease are under
65 years old, according to the CDC(opens in new tab).
9.STRESS
Stress may make people more likely to get cardiac issues at an earlier
age. This may be due to the fact that stress can raise blood pressure. Additionally,
a 2017 study published in The Lancet(opens in new tab) hypothesised that when
people are under stress, their brain sends signals to the bone marrow to
generate more white blood cells, which in turn causes general artery
inflammation and reduces blood flow.
This article is not intended to provide medical advice; it is purely for
informational reasons.
Lou Mudge:Lou Mudge works for Future PLC as a health journalist from Bath, England. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Bath Spa University, and her writing has featured in a number of publications, including Live Science, Tom's Guide, Fit & Well, Coach, T3, and Tech Radar. She frequently writes about issues pertaining to our health and fitness, such as the effects of air quality, gut health, diet, and nutrition on our daily life.
She collaborated with the education department at Bath Spa University to
create a brief book while working on a chemical research project for the
University of Bath.
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