What are they?

Introduction:

It is now known that certain traits and lifestyle habits increase the risk of heart attack. These are known as “risk factors”. There are four major risk factors for heart attack that you can control. They are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, cigarette/ tobacco smoke and physical inactivity. Other factors that may affect your risk of heart attack are diabetes, obesity, negative responses to stress and certain drugs. As people are becoming more aware about these risk factors, more of them are seeking advice and altering their lifestyles. Many adults have quit smoking. Others have begun exercising. Still others have worked with their doctors to control high blood pressure or lower their blood cholesterol level. The truth is, you can help prevent a heart attack – your own, or even a family member's. It means taking steps now to adopt a healthy lifestyle and inviting the people you love to join you.

Atherosclerosis: The Basic Cause of Heart Disease:

Atherosclerosis is a long term disease process in which cholesterol and other substances slowly build up in the inner lining of artery walls causing plaque formation. When plaque builds up in an artery to the heart, the artery begins to narrow, reducing the hearts blood supply. Eventually the artery may become completely closed off, either by the plaque itself or by a blood clot that lodges in the narrowed area. When the blood supply can't reach a part of the heart muscle, that part begins to die. This is called a heart attack! Similarly, if an artery to the brain is blocked, a stroke results.

Risk Factors for Heart Attack:

The risk factors for heart attack are conditions and habits that tend to speed the development of atherosclerosis. That's why it's so important to control as many of these factors as you can. By controlling your risk factors, you may be able to slow down (or stop) the development of atherosclerosis. That will help you prevent a heart attack.

High Blood Pressure:

Blood pressure is the force of blood against artery walls. It's recorded as two numbers. Systolic pressure is the force when the heart beats – the higher number. Diastolic pressure is the force when the heart is at rest. If a persons systolic pressure is 140 mmHg or greater, or the diastolic pressure is 90 mmHg or more (or both) for two or more measurements, then the person has high blood pressure. This is also known as hypertension, a major risk factor for heart attack.

Factors that increase the chance of high blood pressure include age: the older you get, the higher your blood pressure tends to be. So it is important to check your blood pressure regularly. A high salt diet may contribute in people who are “sodium sensitive”. Another factor is overweight. Fatter people have higher blood pressure than thin people. Too many calories can lead to obesity, a major cause of hypertension. High blood pressure may also be due to lesser thyroid function, diabetes and liver or kidney disease.

High Blood Cholesterol:

Cholesterol is a large part of atherosclerotic plaque. In fact, studies show that a high level of cholesterol in blood speeds up the process of atherosclerosis. Studies of large number of people show that the risk of heart attack for a person with blood cholesterol level of 240 mg/dl or more is twice that of a person whose cholesterol is 200 mg/dl.

How Cholesterol gets to the Arteries:

Cholesterol and other fats are carried in the blood stream in protein coatings called lipoproteins. Most cholesterol in blood is carried in a package called low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also know as the bad cholesterol as it's most likely to produce atherosclerosis. A diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol raise the blood levels. Some fats – polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats – tend to lower the blood cholesterol level. Saturated fats are found in foods from animal sources, such as whole milk, cream, ice-cream, whole milk cheeses, butter and meat. Palm oil, palm kernel and coconut oils are high in saturated fats. In general, plant oils are usually high in poly- and mono-unsaturated fats. Safflower, soy, corn and sunflower-seed oils are rich in polyunsaturated fats. Olive, canola and peanut oils contain mostly monounsaturated fats. Fish oils are very heart protective and help to lower blood cholesterol.

Cigarette/Tobacco Smoke:

Smoking is another major risk factor. Scientists believe that it promotes heart disease in a variety of ways. First, it speeds up the development of atherosclerosis, possibly by damaging the artery walls and allowing cholesterol to deposit. Next, it reduces the HDL level. It may also encourage blood clots, which can cause a heart attack by blocking an artery blocked by plaque. It also promotes atherosclerosis in abdominal aorta and arteries in the legs. Heart disease is not the only problem caused by smoking, as it is a major cause of lung cancer and other malignancies, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. A single most preventable cause of death from heart disease. It is critical that everyone – regardless of age or sex – realize the serious danger of the smoking habit.