We all must know by now that heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States and the U.K. if not the world over. The risk of suffering from heart disease can be lowered through healthy habits, diet and exercise. Realistically, we can achieve this with a proactive changes in our lifestyles.
- High alcohol consumption: When taken in moderation, it has no negative effect but high level of alcohol taken on a regular basis can poison the heart as well as other internal organ as the liver and the brain. Despite the claims by some producers that red wine was particularly good at preventing heart attack, scientific evidence suggests that any form of alcohol has the same effect.
- Stress: Simply put, stress is a series of biochemical and physiological reaction in the body due to some external threat or stimuli. We all experience some degree of stress from time to time. And while there is still no direct evidence that stress can cause heart attack, individuals with other risk factors may be at a greater risk from stressful life.
The pressure to take on more than you can manage , to set unrealistic goals, has created the idea of the type A personality. This makes it difficult for relaxation and can double the risk of heart attack especially in individuals with existing heart problems like chest pain. To explain this better, a damaged or diseased heart can be unstable and the adrenaline surge produced by a stressful event could provoke a change in the normal rhythm of the heart. So BEWARE!
- Homocysteine: This is the amino acid produced in the body during metabolism. It’s simply the normal breakdown product of dietary protein. Raised level of homocysteine are associated with arteriosclerosis i.e. an arterial disease, by causing damage to the endothelial (internal tissue) lining of the arteries. It can also promote movement of bad cholesterol (LDL-C) particles into the arterial wall, thereby increasing the risk of plague formation and thrombosis. So know it today that raised level of homocysteine is associated with increase risk of heart disease especially coronary heart disease (CHD).
Homocysteine level are usually checked by vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid which breaks it down in the body. This means that when you lacks these vital vitamins, homocysteine levels rises along with the risk of heart diseases.
- Raised insulin level: High insulin level in the body have been found to cause direct damage to the fragile cells in the arterial lining. This makes them more susceptible to plague formation and thrombosis.
- Cocaine and Amphetamine: Cocaine can increase blood viscosity i.e. resistance to flow. This therefore promotes blood clot. It can also trigger the rise in blood level of a protein that helps blood to clot by causing platelets to stick together. When platelets sticks, they clot the arteries and we all know what that means. So a word is enough for the wise.
Amphetamine stimulates the release of neurotransmitters (a chemical that transmits message between different nerve sells and muscles) such as epinephrine,which increase blood pressure and raise blood sugar levels.
To learn more about contributory risks factors to heart diseases Call 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721) or visit http://www.americanheart.org
Knowledge is power, so Learn and Live!
Contributing Risk Factors to Heart Disease
6:30 PM | alcohol, amphetamine, homocysteine, insulin level, stress, thrombosis | 0 comments »
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