Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease Explained?

Signs & Risk Factors of Coronary Heart Disease

Are there any particular risk factors for coronary heart disease? Many people do not even know that they are suffering from coronary heart disease until they get chest pain or a heart attack. Coronary heart disease is the general term for plaque development in arteries of the heart and leads to a stroke.

In most cases, plaque build-up can be sudden or start in childhood and form blood clots that get worse over time and lead to heart attacks. So it is important to learn about risks, factors, symptoms and treatment to save yourself, friends and family members from heart disease.    

Explanation of Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease occurs when coronary arteries narrow and become clogged due to the buildup of plaque in the heart. Blood clots block coronary arteries and cut off blood supply. This reduces vital oxygen or blood flow to the heart muscles. Without a sufficient blood supply, the heart won't function properly since it is starving for oxygen.

Coronary heart disease is a condition of cardiovascular disease. It leads to a risk of congenital heart conditions, heart failure, stroke, cardiomyopathy and heart valve problems.  

Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease

Much research concludes that youth and children are at increased risk of coronary heart disease due to their poor lifestyles. Some uncontrollable and manageable risk factors are explained to detect and plan for reducing these risks and maintaining good health.

Uncontrollable risk factors of this disease are:

• Being older, for men, increases risk after 45 and for women after 55 years.
• Genetic heart issues, for example, a family history of suffering from chronic heart disease.

Manageable risk factors of Coronary heart problems:  

• High blood pressure.
• Diabetes
• Low or High cholesterol level.
• Unhealthy diet, eating oily, junk, packaged and high-fat food items.
• Being physically inactive, leading a sedentary lifestyle.
• Being obese or overweight.
• Excessive level of smoking.
• Regular alcohol consumption.
• Psychological factors like depression and anxiety.
• Malnutrition

Signs and Symptoms of Suffering from Coronary Heart Disease

This disease develops gradually over time, and symptoms can differ for individuals.

• You may feel uncomfortable and experience excessive sweating.
• Uncontrolled chest pain due to a reduction of blood flow in heart muscles.
• Feeling faint suddenly.
• Back, jaw, and shoulder pain.
• Feeling tired and sick.
• Breathing shortness

Treatment for Coronary Heart Disease

If you want to avoid the risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack, follow the suggested measures below and lead a simple lifestyle.

• Medicines for managing diabetes and high cholesterol.
• Lifestyle changes with a healthy diet and exercise.
• Surgical intervention includes stent replacement, angioplasty, and coronary artery graft surgery.
• Cardiac rehabilitation program including heart health education, nutritional guidance and emotional support.
• Clinical treatment of higher tissue oxygenation can reduce the harmful effects of coronary heart disease.  

Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease

Look at the section below for tips on preventing heart disease.

• If you smoke, stop. Stop taking tobacco or smoking to maintain good heart health.
• Choose heart-healthy fats and nutritional foods over unhealthy oily and saturated fats.
• Maintain correct body weight.
• Start a regular exercise routine for 1 hour of walking.
• Start taking a statin as per the doctor's prescription.
• Keep managing blood sugar levels with proper diet, medication and monthly check-ups.

Major risk factors of coronary heart disease are high or low cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure, obesity, history of genetic heart disease, smoking and unhealthy lifestyle. Living a combination of a healthy, good nutrition diet plan and regular physical activity plays an important role in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.