Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Now the good news: It’s largely preventable. Lifestyle changes can drastically reduce your risk of heart disease. Learn the risk factors and join our “Healthy Living Revolution Community“ so you can take to live healthier and longer.
Heart disease risk factors
According to a 2015 Annuls of Internal Medicine study, about half the deaths from heart and vascular disease in the U.S. could be prevented. Reducing your risks for heart disease is the first step. These heart disease factors include:
Obesity: A body mass index (BMI) above 30 puts you at risk for developing heart disease. Body fat distribution matters, too. That central adiposity, also known as a spare tire, increases your risk. Those fat cells may lead to future cardiovascular disease and problems such as high blood pressure and blood sugar.
High cholesterol and high blood pressure: Too much LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in your arteries, pinching off the flow of blood to your heart or brain. Hypertension (high blood pressure) also increases risk for heart disease. It’s called ‘the silent killer’ because many people don’t know they have it.
Diabetes: Making sure that diabetes is well controlled helps prevent plaque buildup and atherosclerosis (when plaque clogs your arteries). Plaque buildup restricts blood flow to your heart and other organs, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.
Alcohol consumption: Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk for heart disease. If you have three or more drinks in one session, your blood pressure will be higher the following day. So, it’s best for women to drink no more than one drink a day and men to stick to no more than two.
If you want to join our “Healthy Living Revolution Community,” call or text 906-774-5833.
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