Understanding Heart Disease
Understanding Heart Disease is critical when we talk about our health. Healthy hearts keep blood circulating in our bodies, which help to provide the body with oxygen and nutrients. Unfortunately, heart disease is one of the most common health issues in adults today. We sat down with Clinician Roxanne Raya to spend some time understanding more about heart disease, including what causes it, what the major risk factors are, and what we can do to keep our hearts, and bodies, healthy.
What is Heart Disease?
Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, contributing to approximately 1 in 4 deaths. The key risk factors for heart disease are high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and smoking. Nearly half of Americans (47%) have at least one of these three risk factors. Heart health matters for both short-term and long-term health, and we’re going to learn more about the three key risk factors and ways we can all live healthier lives.
What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in foods from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese.
There is a “good” kind of cholesterol and a “bad” kind. These are low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). An easy way to remember the difference is this: Lower LDL levels and Heighten HDL levels. Too much LDL cholesterol in your blood can lead to the buildup of plaque, which can narrow or even block your coronary arteries, a process called atherosclerosis. This blockage of blood flow increases risk for heart attack, stroke, and heart disease.
What do the different types of cholesterol do? Think of HDL like a delivery truck. It works positively for your body as it floats along and picks up LDL to carry back to the liver where it can be broken down. However, HDL only carries approximately a third or fourth of blood cholesterol through the body, which is why balance is vital to good heart health.
“The problem arises after years of not controlling cholesterol,” says Raya. “It accumulates over time, with plaque building in the arteries. It’s a process. If you have a history of high cholesterol, you may consider getting checked twice a year to ensure your cholesterol levels are under control.”
The American Heart Association recommends that all adults 20 or older have their cholesterol and other traditional risk factors checked every four to six years. Those with cardiovascular disease, and those at elevated risk, may need their cholesterol and other risk factors assessed more often. High cholesterol typically has no symptoms, which is why it’s important to test for it. A small blood test is all that’s needed to find your cholesterol levels.
A healthy diet can help reduce cholesterol levels. “Try substituting red meats and pork for wild-caught fish in your diet, like salmon,” Raya advises. “Many seafoods like shrimp, scallops, and lobster, are high in cholesterol. Chicken and turkey can also be healthier choices, as well as high fiber foods, vegetables, and salads.” Some foods that contain healthy fats, like walnuts, almonds, avocado, and olive oil, can also be added to a diet in moderation.
What is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of the blood on the artery walls as the heart pumps blood through the body. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The heart pumps blood through arteries by contracting. Each time the heart contracts, the blood pushes harder against the walls of the arteries than it does while it rests between beats. The pressure of the blood on the artery walls is greatest each time the heart contracts.
Normal, healthy blood pressure is considered to be less than 120/80 (“120 over 80”). Blood pressure can rise and fall with exercise, rest, emotions, or pain. Blood pressure readings greater than this may indicate hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk of having a stroke and other serious medical problems. Some of the contributing factors are age, family history, obesity, high stress, and lack of physical activity. Foods and products that can negatively impact your levels are tobacco, salt, alcohol, or too little potassium.
Hypertension develops over years and can go unnoticed without regular monitoring. Without symptoms, blood vessels can be damaged, causing your heart to work significantly harder than it should. This is why having your blood pressure checked is part of a routine office visit. For those at high risk, 24-hour ambulatory diagnostic tools can also help with hypertension monitoring. As you get older, it becomes more important to check it often. After age 40, or if you’re at a high risk due to genetics or other factors, check it at least every year.
“When it comes to high blood pressure,” Raya says, “medication therapy may be needed, but other factors can be addressed.”
Aside from regular checkups with your healthcare provider, medication and healthy life habits can help patients with hypertension. “There are natural ways to combat high blood pressure. For overweight patients, committing to losing 5-10% of their body weight can help result in 4-10 points in your blood pressure mmHg reduction.” Incremental and sustainable change like we talked about in our New Year New You blog can also help us keep our bodies healthier. “The goal is one hour of exercise daily,” Raya advises. “Cardiovascular exercise on most days can help reduce high blood pressure.”
In 2017, Million Hearts recognized Southwest Orlando Family Medicine as a Hypertension Control Champion, one of just 24 practices nationally selected for their success in hypertension control for patients, reaching a control rate of nearly 83%.
What about smoking?
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, according to the CDC. Smoking and can lead to disease and disability that harms nearly every organ of the body. When combined with risk factors like high cholesterol and high blood pressure, smoking increases a patient’s overall risk of heart disease.
“People think about smoking affect the lungs,” Raya says, “But it also affects the heart. It can cause patients to be high risk for overall health, various cancers, and even surgery.” According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, patients diagnosed with heart disease who quit smoking can reduce their risk of a recurrent heart attack and cardiovascular death by 50% or more.
“Smoking increases plaque in your coronary arteries and your vessels.” Raya says. “But there’s help out there to quit. A variety of medications like Chantix and Wellbutrin have proven to be successful in smoking reduction and quitting goals.” There are also websites like Tobacco Free Florida that can help those looking to quit smoking.
Conclusion
Heart health matters for both short-term and long-term health, and it’s important to monitor and manage key factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and smoking. Nearly half of Americans (47%) have at least one of these three key risk factors when it comes to heart disease. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can be monitored and managed by your Clinician, which may include medication, healthy diet recommendations, and exercise. The best way to reduce your risk factor from smoking is to quit, and there are resources available at your doctor office and online to help you on your journey to being tobacco free.
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Clinician Contributor:
Sources:
HDL (Good), LDL (Bad) Cholesterol and Triglycerides, High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Million Hearts Control Champions, Heart Disease and Stroke
Disclaimer: All information presented on this website is intended for informational purposes only and not intended to replace your individual medical advice. Please review this information with your clinical team to ensure it is appropriate for your individual medical needs. The information contained is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.