The Four Greatest Risk Factors for Heart Disease

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                Time to snuff the cigarettes, eat your veggies, see your doctor and start exercising. Two large population studies recently confirmed that the vast majority of people who have heart attacks or other types of plaque-related heart disease already have at least one of four well-established risk factors-cigarette smoking diabetes, high blood pressure (140/90 or higher) or high cholesterol (240 mg/dL or higher).

THE STUDIES-500,000 PEOPLE

                In the first study, researchers looked at data from three other studies that investigated the heart and general health history of 386,915 men and women. They found that between 87% and 100% of people who had a fatal heart attack had at least one of these major risk factors. Among those who had nonfatal heart tacks, about 90% had at least one risk factor.

                The second study, which included 122,450 men and women, found that 85% or women and 85% of men with heart disease also had at least one of the four main risk factors.

                This landmark research e debunks a commonly held theory that these major risk factors account for only about half of all heart attacks. “These findings reemphasize the importance of the well-known risk factors for heart disease,” says study researcher Philip G. Greenland, MD, executive associate dean for clinical and translational research, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, “Once these risk factors are present, heart disease is harder to avoid.”

                The good news is that all of these risks can be modified with healthy lifestyle changes and/or medical intervention. “These are all medical problems that we can treat and therefore, significantly lower heart disease risk,” Dr. Greenland says.

                Of all the risk factors, smoking was among the worst. According to the heart disease study, cigarette smokers suffered symptoms of heart disease nearly a full decade earlier than those with other risk factors.

STEPS TO SUCCESS

                While none of this is new, it bears repeating. To keep your heart healthy and disease-free…

·         Stop smoking. There are now more ways than ever to quit. Talk to your doctor about the best method for you. 

·         Get moving. Exercise-even moderate activity, such as walking-optimizes cholesterol levels and HDL(“Good”) cholesterol and LDL(“Bad”) cholesterol balance, and helps lower blood pressure. Aim to accumulate at least 60 minute of activity, such as walking, gardening and housework, as well as recreational activity, such as swimming, cycling or playing sports, on most days of the week.

·         Eat a balanced whole-foods diet. Focus on fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which are all naturally good for your heart. Also eat a diet containing proper levels of the three fat classes-saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated-to help keep the heart health.

·         Talk to your doctor. If your cholesterol or blood pressure remains stubbornly elevated, talk to your health-care provider about the best medical therapies and natural interventions to bring your numbers back to a safe range.

References:

Philip Greenland, MD, professor of medicine, and executive associate dean for clinical and translational research, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago.