Cardiovascular diseases: Beware of these risk factors!

Heart, the primary organ responsible for circulation, is about the size of your fist. It weighs approximately 1 pound and is located slightly to the left breastbone. With the increasing risk of cardiovascular diseases, it’s important to understand the risk factors.

What are Cardiovascular Diseases?

Heart or cardiovascular diseases involve the heart or blood vessels called arteries and veins. It involves several diseases such as coronary artery diseases, stroke, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, congenital heart diseases. CVD are associated with a high rate of death or hospitalization.

Why is the number increasing?

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A person with cardiovascular diseases may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Let’s understand the risk factors that increase the chances of getting cardiovascular diseases.

1. Cigarette smoking :- Smoking and tobacco use is a major risk factor for increasing a person’s risk of getting CVD. Smoking increases the risk of clot formation and the nicotine and carbon monoxide in the smoke can damage the heart and blood vessels. The reason why fitness enthusiasts are dealing or getting heart strokes, can be such factors that might be there in the background causing cardiovascular diseases.

2. Atherogenic Diet :- It is the type of diet that promotes the formation of plaque on the inside of arteries. This type of diet is rich in cholesterol, trans fat and saturated fat. People whose diet is completely dependent on fast and fried food are unknowingly taking the atherogenic diet. Populations that consume diets high in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and unsaturated fatty acids appear to be at a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases.

3. Overweight/Obesity :- Obesity and heart diseases are very much linked to each other. It is a major but modifiable risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Obese indiviual have more fat and higher level of blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides in their body and can also trigger inflammatory processes that can harm the cardiovascular system. 

4. Physical Inactivity :- It is also associated with increased risk of CVD. Conversely, physical activity favorably modifies several risk factors. It has been reported to lower LDL and triglycerides levels, raise HDL cholesterol, improve insulin sensitivity, and lower blood pressure.

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5. Stress :- Evidence always says that yes there is a connection between stress and cardiovascular health. The impact of the stress taken on the cardiovascular system depends upon the amount of stress, duration, patients disease history, genetic factors etc. So it's very important to look for or consider a person’s stress level when it comes to cardiovascular diseases.

6. Hypertension :- It is a term used to describe persistent elevation of the blood pressure. It can be dangerous as it impairs the pumping function of the heart. Medication and lifestyle modifications help you in keeping your blood pressure level normal.

It’s very important to keep a check on what you’re taking in your system, and what kind of lifestyle you’re living in. Keeping in mind that a person with cardiovascular disease may be symptomatic or asymptomatic, it's very important to keep a regular check on your cardiac health with the help of your cardiologist and work on modifying these factors to achieve or lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases. Regular health checks for monitoring your cardiovascular health and living a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.