February is American Heart Month. All month long, this column will feature information to help you improve your heart health. Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? It accounts for nearly 30 percent of all deaths. To put that in perspective, cancer accounts for about 25 percent of all US deaths. Look around at your coworkers, friends or family, and know that 3 out of 10 of them are likely to die from heart disease. One of them might even be you, so here’s what you need to know about the risk factors for heart disease.
There are three types of risk factors for heart disease: conditions, behavior, and heredity. Obviously, you have no control over heredity, but you do have control over many conditions and you behavior.
The conditions associated with heart disease risk include elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes. These are all conditions which use measurable numbers to assess the level of severity.
Here’s a quick glance at where your numbers should be:
Total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL
LDL (“bad”) cholesterol goals will vary for each individual.
HDL (“good”) cholesterol should be 50mg/dL
Triglycerides should be <150 mg/dL
Blood pressure should be <120/80 mmHg
To determine if you are at risk for diabetes, fasting glucose should be <100 mg/dL
If your numbers are higher than that, you are at risk for heart disease. Click on the links to learn more about each condition.
Behaviors that increase your risk for heart disease include the use of tobacco and alcohol, obesity, inactivity, and a poor diet. Interestingly, many of these behaviors are related. For example, many people who are inactive and/or have a diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol, are at risk for obesity, as well as diabetes and high cholesterol. All of these behaviors can be modified so that you can live a longer, healthier life.
The final risk factor for heart disease is heredity. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to change your DNA. If you have a family history that includes heart disease, other vascular conditions, or high blood pressure, you’re much more likely to develop heart disease. But you can make the best of it by taking steps to reduce your other risk factors, like the conditions and behaviors listed above. If heart disease runs in your family, be sure you avoid smoking, eat a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol, get plenty of exercise, and keep your weight in check.
Talk it up:
Do you feel you may be at risk for heart disease?
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