Did you know that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally? Or that 38% of premature deaths in 2019 (under the age of 70) were caused by CVD?[i]
With such glaring numbers, CVD is a serious condition that could affect anyone. However, if you have specific medical conditions, you have a higher risk of developing CVD. While these conditions may be managed by medication or other treatment, they cannot be controlled and therefore require consistent monitoring.
To understand whether you are at risk for CVD, read on to learn which medical conditions are risk factors for heart disease.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure is one of the major heart disease risk factors for CVD. Often called the “silent killer,” its symptoms are generally invisible without medical equipment. The only way to know that you have high blood pressure is by measuring your blood pressure on a regular basis.
While you won’t feel high blood pressure, your arteries and other blood vessels will feel the pressure against their walls. Blood pressure generally changes throughout the day depending on the time and your activities. If blood pressure remains high for long periods of time, it adds strain to arteries and vital organs such as the brain, kidney, and eyes. Sufferers of high blood pressure are at high risk for CVD.
Nearly half (47%) of Americans suffer from high blood pressure.[ii] While it can be controlled with medication and/or lifestyle choices, patients cannot fully rid themselves of the condition.
High cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is essential for certain bodily functions. Cells membranes are made from cholesterol, as are certain hormones and vitamin D. The liver creates enough cholesterol for bodily functions, but most people consume extra cholesterol from food, especially from meat and other animal products.
Too much cholesterol sticks to the walls of arteries and creates blockages. Narrower arteries, especially near the heart, can decrease blood flow to the heart, brain, kidney, and other body parts. Because of the added pressure on the heart, high cholesterol increases the chances of heart attacks, strokes, and other forms of CVD.
Like high blood pressure, high cholesterol has no signs or symptoms. Your doctor can check your cholesterol level via a blood test. Today, about 38% of Americans suffer from high cholesterol.[iii] It’s recommended that adults check their cholesterol levels every 4-6 years. Adults with a family history of high cholesterol should check more often. High cholesterol can be controlled with medication or lifestyle changes.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition when the body is unable to turn sugar (glucose) into energy. A healthy pancreas creates the hormone insulin, which helps turn glucose into energy. Patients with diabetes do not make enough insulin, fail to use it, or both. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the blood, damaging blood vessels and creating fatty deposits. This is a big risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and the longer a patient suffers from diabetes, the higher their risk for CVD.
People with diabetes are at high risk to develop CVD at younger ages. Diabetes patients are also more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other factors that increase the risks for CVD. This means that diabetes patients must be even more pedantic when it comes to monitoring their risks.
Diabetes can be managed with medications to lower blood sugar levels or increase insulin production. It can also be managed with healthy lifestyle changes. Type 1 diabetes is a genetic disorder and, even with management, will never disappear. Type 2 diabetes is largely diet-based and can be eliminated with lifestyle changes.
Family history
If you have a family history of CVD, such as a parent or sibling who had a heart attack or stroke, you have a higher risk of CVD. A family history could be related to shared genetics or environmental factors. It’s important to know if any close family members suffered from or are suffering from CVD under the age of 60, as this is a big factor that could predict your own CVD.
If you have a family history of CVD, it is important to regularly check for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other factors that could lead to CVD.
Know Your Risk
Do you have any of these cardiovascular disease risk factors? It’s important to manage your medical conditions and monitor your heart for any signs of CVD. You should also consult your doctor to see what you can do to protect your health.
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[i] Cardiovascular Diseases (Cvds). World Health Organization, World Health Organization. 11 June 2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds).
[ii] Facts About Hypertension. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 27 September 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm
[iii] Cholesterol Information. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 27 September 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/index.htm
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