Knowing what state your heart is in is important, but how do you go about assessing your risk for heart disease? Find out how to know your risk.
There are various risk factors that increase your risk for heart disease, including three key ones: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. The following is an overview of the different factors that affect your heart disease risk and what you can do about it.
Health Risk Factors
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a significant risk factor for heart disease and can affect your heart, kidneys, and brain. Its nickname is “the silent killer” because it typically presents no symptoms, so the only way to know if you have it is to measure your blood pressure regularly and have it diagnosed by your doctor.
Another risk factor that usually has no symptoms is high cholesterol and the only way to know if you have it is through a blood test. Moreover, high cholesterol can lead to plaque formation in the arteries, decreasing circulation to the heart, brain, kidneys, and other parts of the body.
People with diabetes also have an increased risk of death from heart disease as sugar builds up in the blood. Lastly, obesity is associated with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, which is why you should maintain a healthy weight.
Behavioral and Other Risk Factors
In addition to health conditions, there are certain habits that can also increase your risk for heart disease. These behavioral risk factors include your diet, physical activity level, alcohol intake, and tobacco use. For example, cigarette smoking can increase your risk for heart conditions by damaging your heart and blood vessels.
However, there are also some risk factors that are out of your hands such as genetic factors. If your family has a history of heart disease, your risk of heart disease, blood pressure, and other associated conditions increases.
When it comes to age and sex, it’s important to note that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. However, the risk of heart disease increases as you get older.
Lastly, while heart disease and stroke can affect anyone, some groups may be more affected than others. For instance, heart disease is the second leading cause of death for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics, with cancer being the first.
Managing Your Heart Health
While some factors like family history and age are out of your control, there are plenty of risk factors that you can manage. By leading a healthy lifestyle, you can significantly decrease your risk of heart disease. In other words, don’t focus on what you can’t change.
In addition to changing your habits to healthier ones, you can give your health an extra boost by taking L-arginine Plus. As a heart supplement, it promotes circulation, blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall heart health. Give your heart the support it needs by knowing your risk, making the necessary lifestyle changes, and taking L-arginine Plus.