Americans are living longer, healthier and happier lives than ever before. This can be attributed to a number of reasons, including improvements in environmental and social conditions, control of infectious diseases, revolutionary pharmaceuticals and technological advances in medicine. However, the most important factor of your health is you, because what you know and what you do can make a difference in not only how long you live, but also in the quality of life that you have, particularly as you age.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) diseases are the leading killers in the United States today. It is important to know that heart disease is not just a man’s disease! For years it has been falsely rumored that men were the ones who needed to worry about heart attacks. However, in reality, while women tend to develop heart disease later in life, studies have shown that they actually have a higher rate of mortality from their first heart attack.
Let’s review some of the major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as well as their complications, and treatments.
Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes is the number one risk for cardiovascular diseases. If diabetes is left untreated, it can result in serious complications affecting the eyes and kidneys, as well as hypertension, cerebrovascular disease (leading to stroke), coronary artery disease (leading to heart attack) and peripheral arterial disease (leading to amputation). Treatment involves taking medications, checking the blood glucoses regularly, following a strict diabetic diet and exercising.
Tobacco Use: The use of tobacco can lead to cardiovascular diseases, such as blood clots, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease (leading to stroke), coronary artery disease (leading to heart attack), peripheral arterial disease (leading to amputation) and aneurysms. The only way to avoid the complications associated with nicotine is to quit.
Hypertension is defined as a blood pressure greater than 140/90. Pre–hypertension is a blood pressure of 120–139/80–89. If you have pre–hypertension, you are likely to develop high blood pressure at some point. Complications of hypertension include kidney failure, heart failure (cardiomyopathy), arrhythmias, cerebrovascular disease (leading to stroke), coronary artery disease (leading to heart attack) and sudden cardiac death. Treatment for hypertensdion includes medications, exercise, diet and weight reduction.
Dyslipidemia is an abnormal amount of fatty substances in the blood. The accepted ranges of total cholesterol should be under 200 mg/dL. A value over 200 mg/dL may indicate a greater risk for heart disease. However, LDL levels are an effective predictor of heart disease and determine how your high cholesterol should be treated. How you are treated also depends on whether you have any of theseadditional risk factors for heart disease. Treatment includes a diet high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, a regular exercise routine and medications. Even if your cholesterol is normal, you may have been prescribed a specific kind of medication for cholesterol called a statin because these medications reduce the risk of adverse events, such as heart attack and stroke.
Sleep Apnea is an abnormal breathing pattern in which the individual stops breathing at frequent intervals in the night. Symptoms include snoring at night, experiencing daytime sleepiness, feeling fatigue and a decreased attention span. Sleep apnea leads to early heart disease. A sleep study can confirm the diagnosis, and treatment involves weight loss, cessation of tobacco use and the avoidance of alcohol or sedative medications, as well as a mouthpiece to adjust the jaw at night, an assistive mechanical breathing device known as a CPAP, or in some cases, surgery.
Sedentary Lifestyles and Obesity decrease overall heath and fitness. The benefits of exercise are enormous and contribute to health by reducing the heart rate, decreasing the risk for cardiovasculardisease and reducing the amount of bone loss associated with age and osteoporosis. Physical activity also helps the body use calories more efficiently, thereby helping in weight loss and maintenance. It can increase basal metabolic rate, reduce appetite and help in the reduction of body fat. Modest low–impact exercise is best for seniors. Exercise should be performed 30 minutes three to five times a week.
Even if you have no risk factors or if your risk factors are managed well, you may still suffer a heart attack. Many people think heart attacks only happen suddenly, but the truth is that most startslow and may occur over a period of days. Even if you have had a heart attack in the past, you could experience an entirely different set of symptoms the second time; that is why it is important to recognize the warning signs, which include:
- Chest discomfort. Many heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and returns. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. This can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, the neck, the jaw or the stomach.
- Shortness of breath. This often comes along with chest discomfort, but it also can occur before chest discomfort.
- Other symptoms. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, as well as experiencing nausea or light–headedness. Some people experience the “classic” chest pain syndrome associated with a heart attack. However, women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, increasing fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and/or back or jaw pain. Other people, particularly those with diabetes, may have no symptoms at all or experience only a general feeling of malaise. It is important to listen to your body because you may experience one, several or none of these symptoms. If you experience any type of discomfort, you should follow–up with your physician immediately or call 911 in the case of severe symptoms. Acting in time can often prevent disability and death from a heart attack.
