Essay on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

There are multiple factors that lead to the development cardiovascular disease. While some individuals are born with conditions that predispose them to strokes or heart disease, a majority of people participate in a combination of risk factors that lead to the development of cardiovascular disease. A few of those risk factors include a lack of physical activity, smoking, and poor diet. The more frequently individuals expose themselves to these risk factors the higher their chances of developing cardiovascular disease.

All families in the world have their own personal family risk factors pertaining to their health. These risk factors come from generations that are then sometimes passed down to the newer generations of the family. Some of these risk factors that families have could be diseases or cancers that can unfortunately take one’s life to soon because it attacks their body a certain way and causes it to shut down. But, many families could possibly overcome these risk factors they may have by changing their life styles and not following in the steps of earlier generations. My family risk factor, heart disease, will be discussed through the risk factor, how life style might play a role in the risk factor, what can be done to help lower the chances

     There are eight major contributors that result in heart disease: heredity, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol (LDL), physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, and arterial inflammation. The remaining seven contributors can be controlled, or at least reduced to safer levels that will help prevent or even reverse the disease, prevent a heart attack, and prolong one’s life.

Over the past few years cardiovascular diseases have become the number one global cause of death. These diseases were first discovered 3,500 years ago with the Egyptians, and ever since then the causes have been pretty much the same. Although there are things that can be done to either increase or decrease the chances of getting heart disease. “Heart diseases describe a range of conditions that affect the heart” (Sheen 1). It can range from a myocardial infarction- a heart attack-, to a cerebral vascular disease, which is a disease of the blood vessels. Either way these diseases can impact the life of people in many negative aspects. Cardiovascular diseases have become the number one cause in global death due to the bad habits, diets, stress, and natural and chemical causes that the global population has.

Heart disease has both preventable and non-preventable risk factors that contribute to its development. All of the following are lifestyle risk factors for heart disease EXCEPT:

5. Heart Disease and Stroke- Through prevention, discovery and treatment of risk factors for heart disease increases cardiovascular health and improve the quality of life. Risk factors leading to heart disease and strokes are changes in the heart and blood vessels. Education in healthy foods, diets and exercise can decrease a potential heart attack or stroke. (Healthy People, n.d.).

Individuals are more likely to develop CVD if they have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, are obese, use tobacco, eat a poor diet, or are not physically active. Most clinical risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease can be modified by practicing healthy lifestyle and behavior choices (Yu, Rimm, Lu, Rexrode, Albert, Qi, Willet, Hu, & Manson 2016).

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two major risk factors for heart disease. About half of U.S. adults with high blood pressure and nearly 2 out of 3 U.S. adults with high cholesterol don 't have their condition yet under control (CDC/Vital Signs)

Preventive measures are imperative in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). De Backer mentions that having a lifestyle incorporating poor diet, lack of physical activity, and smoking greatly contributes to the risk factors of individuals with CVD (2017).

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most common cause of mortality worldwide, especially in developed countries. But they are also largely preventable, and many studies have tried to clarify the related risk factors, and what could be done to avoid them.

Coronary heart disease is a result of coronary artery disease. The article "Coronary artery disease," states that one of the greatest risk factors for this disease is definitely: age, sex, family history, smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, etc. There are several treatments mentioned, however the most important type of treatment can given from the patient itself, by making a commitment to a new healthy lifestyle such as quitting: smoking and eating unhealthy. Although many feel there is no way to avoid coronary artery disease, it's false, because coronary artery disease is preventable. Eating a healthy diet, managing your weight, and staying in shape, can immensely help to prevent any type of heart disease.

D.E Threpleton et al. sought to investigate whether there is an association between dietary fibre intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality1. In this prospective cohort study, data was collected from the United Kingdom Women’s Cohort Study (UKWCS). The UKWCS is a cohort of more than 35,000 women founded in 1994. The UKWCS has heterogenous dietary patterns, which is of interest because of the potential properties in preventing disease of some diets.2

DIABETES: people with diabetes have a high risk of stroke and heart disease; important to maintain blood pressure levels. SMOKING-causes the heart to work more harder- raises blood pressure, it damages the lining of the arteries and leads to ARTHEROSCLEROSIS LACK OF EXERCISE OBESITY The two main diseases affecting a large amount of people in this category of C.V.D are CORONARY HEART DISEASE (CHD) AND

Preventions of CVD can be challenging, but it is manageable. As I mentioned before, some risk factors cannot be treated since CVD can be hereditary. However, for the other risk factors, it is possible for treatment. Tobacco is an issue that can be prevented if the person is willing to quit their habits. There are alternatives such as patches, gum and many resources that could help a person stop tobacco use. Obesity can be treated and if treated it can take the way the risk of hypertension. Eating right and exercising daily could help prevent obesity. Participation in regular physical activity decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease; type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, depression, obesity, breast cancer, and colon cancer (Marcus et al., 2006). Most human beings have difficulty changing their ways when it comes to diet and exercising. However, there are resources that can help everyone. A prevention method that we can start today is with our kids. Our kids are the future of this world and it’s important for them to be healthy. Eating habits start from our childhood. We need to make sure our children are having the appropriate diet to decrease their risks of CVD. To make this happen we need to provide them with healthy snacks like carrots or apples instead of Cheetos or fries. They need water instead of high sugar juices. As well with the appropriate diet we need to make sure they are playing outside or playing with their toys instead of watching television or

Association between tobacco use and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among active duty soldiers in the United States Army.