Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, is an umbrella term that describes a range of heart and blood vessel-related disorders. Hearts disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Early detection of heart disease can prevent complications such as stroke, heart failure, and kidney disorders.
While everyone should be screened for cardiovascular conditions, the adult population above age 40 is at higher risk of suffering from heart disease and needs regular screening.
Read on to know who is at higher risk of developing heart disease and should be screened for heart disease.
Family History Of Heart Disease
Genetic factors play an essential role in developing various health conditions, including hypertension and heart disease. Having a family history of heart disease increases your risk of developing it. Your risk of heart disease also increases when heredity is combined with unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking and eating an unhealthy diet.
Unhealthy Behavior and Lifestyle Factors
If you have a sedentary lifestyle, you should be screened for heart disease. Eating a diet high in saturated fats, drinking alcohol, and not getting exercise make you vulnerable to heart and vascular diseases. Cigarette smoking can also increase your vulnerability by raising your blood pressure and reducing the amount of oxygen in your blood.
Health Conditions That Increase Risk Of Heart Disease
Having certain medical conditions increases your risk of heart disease. If you suffer from any of the following health conditions, you should regularly screen for heart disease.
· Hypertension
Hypertension is a condition in which blood pressure inside your blood vessels and arteries is too high. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, because your heart has to adjust its blood conduction speed according to blood pressure inside the vessels. High blood pressure is a silent killer, because it usually comes with no symptoms. If you have high blood pressure, you should be screened with an electrocardiogram. You can lower your blood pressure with medicines and lifestyle changes.
· Diabetes
The heart-related fatality rate is higher in people who have diabetes than non-diabetics. With diabetes, your body doesn’t produce enough insulin required to break glucose, resulting in high blood sugar levels. An increase in blood sugar levels increases your risk of heart disease.
· Unhealthy Blood Cholesterol Level
Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance made by your liver and found in food. The liver makes cholesterol according to the body’s needs, but you also get cholesterol from food. Cholesterol is of two types; good cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein, and bad cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein. Good cholesterol protects against heart disease, while bad cholesterol increases your vulnerability to heart disease. Bad cholesterol can build up in your blood vessels, including coronary arteries, and narrow them. This narrowing of arteries decreases blood flow to the heart and other parts of the body, resulting in various disorders, including heart disease.
· Obesity
An obese or overweight person is at high risk of having high triglyceride levels, blood cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. Therefore, being overweight increases your risk of developing heart disease. Losing weight can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disorders.
· Mental Health
Various mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression can increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disorders. Managing mental health can reduce this risk. You can go for regular stress tests, which can help reduce the progression of heart disease and heart attack-related fatalities.
Comprehensive Cardiac Testing In Irmo, SC
If you are interested in improving your cardiovascular health, visit us at SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation for a comprehensive evaluation. We’ll evaluate your medical history and recommend necessary diagnostic tests, such as an electrocardiogram and stress test, to determine your heart health. Our providers can offer you a comprehensive treatment plan to produce the best possible outcome. Our qualified providers will also recommend strategies to keep your heart healthy and prevent heart diseases.
If you want to schedule an appointment with our specialists, call us today at (803) 749-1111 or use our online contact form.
