Controlling Your Risk Factors for a Healthier Heart
Controlling Your Risk Factors for a Healthier Heart“I noticed my heart beating under exertion. Something wasn’t right, so I went in to the doctor…. I flunked myheart catheterization. They showed me that I had major blockages in the coronary arteries in my heart. I neededbypass surgery.” – Kirk, PatientWhen you have had heart surgery, a heart attack, stroke or even an angioplasty you have cardiovascular disease.This means you have an increased risk of having another heart attack, stroke, or developing peripheral arterydisease, commonly called PAD.“I’ve had numerous heart attacks, and I just got done having prosthetic arteries put in my leg for a peripheralartery disease.” – Charlie, PatientEverything in your body, including your heart, lungs and brain, is connected together by a vascular system, or bloodsystem. Over time, fatty substances can cause plaque to build-up on the blood vessel walls anywhere in yourvascular system.This is called atherosclerosis and can slow the blood flow throughout the body. When plaque blocks or builds up inthe blood vessels that lead to the brain or heart, you can have a heart attack or stroke.And when you have heart disease you are more likely to develop atherosclerosis somewhere else in your bloodsystem. The only way to lessen this increased risk is to know and control your cardiovascular risk factors, the thingsthat lead to plaque build-up.Some risk factors you have no control over, like your age. As you grow older, your risk of heart disease and strokeincreases. Family history is another risk factor you have no control over. No matter what your age, having a closeblood relative with heart disease increases your risk, especially if the relative is a man under 55 or a woman under 65.“My mother’s side, high blood pressure, stroke. And on my father’s side, high blood pressure, stroke, some heartdisease. So, I have the gene.” – Judy, PatientYour ethnicity plays a part in your risk level as well. Studies show that African Americans have a high risk for heartdisease. Heart disease is also a major cause of death for Hispanic, South Asian and Native Americans.Even though you can’t control your age, family history, or ethnicity, you should know that there are many riskfactors you can work to manage, reduce or even eliminate. Controllable risk factors include:SmokingDiabetesPage 1 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.HCHA10123B EN ControllingYourRiskFactorsForAHealthierHeart.pdf© The Wellness NetworkControlling Your Risk Factors for a Healthier HeartHigh cholesterolHigh blood pressureObesityPhysical inactivity andStress.These are the factors that will speed up your cardiovascular disease process and increase your risk of heartattack, stroke, and PAD. Knowing your risk factors and how to manage them can help you take the steps youneed to reduce this risk. Each of these risk factors can be improved by making healthy lifestyle changes.Lifestyle changes include making healthy food choices, exercising, quitting smoking, getting flu and pneumoniavaccinations, and managing your stress.Most people with heart disease take several medications each day to help control their risk factors. Make sureyou take them exactly as prescribed and learn all you can about how to take yours safely.Meet with your cardiac care team to talk about your risk factors and create a plan to reduce your risk of heartdisease. They will help you set goals that can lead to a heart healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of furtherheart and blood vessel damage.Keeping your cardiovascular system as healthy as possible should be your number one priority. Make healthylifestyle changes to manage your risk factors today.Page 2 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.HCHA10123B EN ControllingYourRiskFactorsForAHealthierHeart.pdf© The Wellness Network
© The Wellness Network
