What are the risk factors associated with heart disease?
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Certain aspects of atherosclerosis, as well as its rate of progression have an underlying genetic nature. Meaning that family history or heredity is important. Also, we are greater risk of a heart attack and stroke as we get older and men seem to be at greater risk than women at least till their post-menopausal years when the risk is about the same. These risk factors are often described as “uncontrollable” since we can’t really do anything about our heredity, age or gender. |
Since atherosclerosis is believed to exist to some degree in most people, disease management should be practiced by everyone throughout our lifetime, beginning in childhood. Various aspects of our lifestyle that influence the development of atherosclerosis are under our control. These include:
- Achieving and/or maintaining a healthy body weight
- Maintaining healthy total and LDL and HDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides
- Maintaining healthy blood pressure levels
- Managing blood glucose levels
- Not smoking
- Exercising regularly, especially cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise
- Minimizing saturated fat and cholesterol intake as a part of a healthy diet plan
- Choosing more whole grains and fruits and vegetables
- Having regular health check ups
How important are blood lipids in determining the risk of heart disease and stroke?
LDLs are a major player in the development of atherosclerosis. Because elevations in LDL-cholesterol are associated with increased risk of heart disease and stroke, it is often deemed the “bad cholesterol”. Although it may not be this simple, higher LDL-cholesterol levels means that there are more LDL in the blood, which in turn means more LDL that can participate in atherosclerosis.
On the other hand, HDL-cholesterol seems to decreases the risk of heart disease and it is often referred to as the “good cholesterol”. Researchers believe that the virtuous nature of HDLs is due to their ability to gather some of the cholesterol associated with atherosclerotic plaque. This could slow the progression of atherosclerosis. In addition, HDL carries antioxidants which can reduce LDL oxidation.
What are recommendations for blood lipids?
A blood lipid profile can help to assess an individual’s risk. Among the several telling indicators are elevated total and LDL-cholesterol levels, reduced HDL-cholesterol levels, and elevated ratios of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol levels. However the AHA suggests that physicians and individuals pay closer attention to the individual measurements versus the ratios. Blood Lipids and Risk Table provides the American Heart Associations goals for blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
What factors raise total and LDL cholesterol?
LDL is called bad cholesterol because as its level increases in the blood, so does the risk of heart disease. As mentioned above, the more LDL in the blood, the more LDL can move into the artery walls and participate in atherosclerosis. The primary factors that seem to raise total and LDL cholesterol levels are:
- Smoking
- Inactive lifestyle
- Obesity
- High saturated fat intake
