Understanding Your Risk for Heart Disease

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death for men and women, but dying of heart disease isn’t inevitable. Understanding your risk factors can help you take steps toward a stronger, healthier heart. 

Here at Carolina Heart and Leg Center, our team of interventional cardiologists provides services to treat structural heart disease, including coronary artery disease, valve disease, and carotid artery disease. Knowing your risk of heart disease means that you can take the necessary steps to protect your heart and blood vessels. 

What is heart disease?

While several conditions affect the cardiovascular system, the most common one tends to come to mind when someone thinks about heart disease -- coronary artery disease (CAD). However, you can have issues with different parts of the cardiovascular system, like the heart muscle, or valves.

Your circulatory system and heart struggle to pump enough blood to your body when they aren't functioning properly, which can have an impact on all of your body’s systems. 

Key risk factors for heart disease

The following are the primary risk factors for heart disease:

Age and gender

Age increases the risk of damaged and narrowed arteries and weakened or thickened heart muscle. Men are generally at higher risk of heart disease, however, women's risk increases and can surpass that of men after menopause.

Poor diet

A diet that's high in fat, salt, and sugar can contribute to heart disease. Over time a poor diet can lead to increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels, both of which strain the heart.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure puts your heart at major risk. Long-term, uncontrolled high blood pressure causes hardening and thickening of the arteries, which narrows blood vessels, raising the risk of a heart attack or stroke. 

High cholesterol

Too much cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of plaque accumulating, resulting in atherosclerosis. Managing cholesterol is crucial for preventing serious issues, such as artery blockage.

Diabetes

Diabetes is another major heart disease risk factor. High blood sugar damages your blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart. Nearly 68% of people age 65 or older with diabetes die from some form of heart disease.

Obesity

Being overweight worsens other heart disease risk factors. Obesity can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, all of which can impact heart health.

Sedentary lifestyle

Exercise is good for just about every system in your body, including your circulatory system. Regular exercise not only strengthens the heart, it helps control weight, promotes healthy cholesterol, and improves blood glucose control. Getting enough exercise also reduces the chance of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure.

Stress

Stress is a lesser-known contributor to heart disease. Chronic stress can damage your arteries and worsen other risk factors for heart disease. It’s important to identify stressors in your life and find ways to manage them. Engaging in stress-relieving activities helps provide some balance.

Smoking

If you smoke, quitting is the number one thing you can do to protect your heart. Tobacco contains chemicals that are especially damaging to blood vessels and the heart. Over time, this leads to atherosclerosis and raises the risk of having a heart attack.

Family history

Genetics plays a role in the risk of developing heart disease. If your parents or siblings had heart disease, you might be more likely to develop heart disease yourself. Genes can pass on a vulnerability for many of the conditions that contribute to heart disease, such as high cholesterol. However, your genes aren’t your destiny, and there’s plenty you can do to protect your heart and blood vessels. 

Screening for heart disease 

Screening is essential if you have symptoms of heart disease, such as shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, chest tightness or pain, or unusual fatigue. Our team at Carolina Heart & Leg Center can perform screenings and diagnostic tests to check your heart health, including:

• Stress test
• Echocardiogram
• Carotid ultrasound

These tests help find problems with blood flow, and check the structure and function of your heart. If there’s a blockage or significant narrowing, our team specializes in treatments that restore blood flow by opening or bypassing blood vessels. 

If you’re concerned about your heart health, our team at Carolina Heart and Leg Center can provide personalized advice and effective management strategies tailored to your specific needs. To get started, contact our office to request an appointment.