Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. It is a leading cause of death globally. The most common types of CVD are coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and cardiomyopathies.
Some key facts about cardiovascular disease:
- What causes CVD? The main risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, lack of physical activity, poor diet, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use. Genetics and age also play a role.
- Who is most at risk? People with the risk factors mentioned above are more likely to develop CVD. The risk increases with age, and men tend to develop it earlier than women.
- What are the symptoms? Symptoms depend on the type of CVD but may include chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue, swelling in the legs, and more.
- How is it diagnosed? Doctors use medical history, physical exam, blood tests, EKG, exercise stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac CT scan, cardiac catheterization, etc.
- How is it treated? Treatment focuses on heart-healthy lifestyle changes, medications to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, procedures like angioplasty or bypass surgery, pacemakers, AICDs, or heart transplants in severe cases.
Now, an important question is - how can you prevent cardiovascular disease? Here are some tips:
- Maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise.
- Eat a balanced diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and added sugars. Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Engage in regular physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week.
- Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
- Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink per day for women, 2 for men.
- Manage conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure through medication and lifestyle changes.
- Reduce stress through yoga, meditation or other relaxation techniques.
- Get enough good quality sleep each night.
- Visit your doctor regularly for checkups to monitor cardiovascular health.
By following these prevention tips, you can greatly reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. If you have concerns about your heart health, I highly recommend contacting Hormone Harmony. Their team of experienced physicians and nurses can evaluate your risk factors and come up with a customized prevention plan. They offer cutting-edge diagnostic tests and treatments to optimize cardiovascular health and prevent disease. Contact them today to schedule a consultation - your heart will thank you!