Scotland County Hospital
Dr. Julia McNabb
March (2010)

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion approximately one person dies from heart disease every 33 seconds.

This translates into almost one fourth of the American population having some form of cardiovascular (heart) disease.

There are several types of heart disease, which simply means, a medical condition that negatively affects the heart.

Some of these conditions are: coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, cardiomyopathy, and myocardial infarction (heart attack).

High blood pressure affects the heart negatively (as well as the brain and the kidneys) but is a disease of the vascular system.

Elevated serum cholesterol and triglycerides (elevated fats in the blood) also can put the heart at risk for development of heart disease.

There are four risk factors for development of heart disease that cannot be changed. These are: heredity, race, gender, and age. Other factors can be modified or eliminated.

Reducing the risk factors you have can have can have a major positive contribution on your health. You may be able to reduce your risk of dying by making these changes.

Lower your blood pressure (ideal normal adult blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg or lower), lower your cholesterol level, stop smoking, if you have diabetes -

regulate your blood sugar, be physically active, if overweight – lose weight, reduce stress to a manageable level, reduce inflammation, and limit alcohol intake (no more than one serving a day for women and two servings a day for men).

Cardiovascular inflammation is an irritation of the blood vessels.

This can occur because of elevated cholesterol and triglycerides (lipids), high blood pressure, cancer, gum disease, tobacco use, diabetes, postmenopausal hormone use, and chronic infection, and other conditions.

Sometimes it takes more than one approach to reduce the inflammation. As mentioned before, stop using tobacco, control blood sugar, get regular exercise, and reduce stress.

Additional tactics to reduce inflammation include not taking postmenopausal hormones for greater than 5 years unless necessary (speak with your healthcare provider regarding this),

brushing teeth twice a day and flossing once a day (every day), and eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables (combined) a day.

Addressing specifically physical activity, according to the World Health Organization 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity can reduce the risk of heart disease by 30%.

Additionally, physical activity reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Plus, it can reduce stress.

Quitting smoking has been shown to reduce the risk of developing heart disease by 50% after one year.

Many people will have a similar risk of developing heart disease as a nonsmoker after being smoke free for six years.

Remember both smoking and secondhand smoke exposure cause cardiovascular inflammation.

Heart disease is prevalent in the United States. Although there are risk factors for development that cannot be changed there are many other risk factors that can be which leads to a healthier heart.

Make the changes you can, discuss options with your healthcare provider, and most importantly stick with the changes. Think healthy, do healthy (habits), be healthy.

Dr. Julia McNabb