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The Guatemala Times
IOL - South Africa
Dr. Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com
Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard
Twitter: DrCoryCouillard
The Guatemala Times
IOL - South Africa
 |
| Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Cardiovascular
diseases (CVDs) are the world’s most lethal killers, claiming 17.3 million
lives per year. This staggering statistic represents 30 percent of all global
deaths per year according to the World Health Organization (WHO). By 2030,
almost 23.6 million people will die from CVDs if comprehensive prevention and
education programs are not implemented immediately.
In partnership
with WHO, the World Heart Federation organizes World Heart Day on 29th
September 2012. Awareness events are hosted in more than 100 countries and are focused
on education of what cardiovascular disease is and how it can be treated and
prevented.
There are many risk
factors for heart disease and stroke, including high blood pressure,
cholesterol and even elevated the blood sugar levels common to diabetes. Other
major contributing factors include physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity and
smoking.
Heart attack warning signs
Some heart attacks
are sudden and intense. Others start slowly, with only mild pain or discomfort,
then progress over time. Commonly, a person experiencing a heart attack is not
fully aware of what is happening and fails to get immediate medical attention.
This can prove fatal.
Signs and
symptoms of a heart attack may include:
• Shortness
of breath or a “tight” chest sensation
• Pain
over the heart or the middle of the chest
• Pain
or discomfort in one or both arms, neck, jaw and back
• A
cold sweat, upset stomach and possible dizziness
Stroke warning signs
A stroke is
always a medical emergency. If you have any of these symptoms, seek immediate
medical attention.
• Sudden
numbness or weakness in the face, arms or legs
• Sudden
vision changes in one or both eyes
• Sudden
difficulty walking due to dizziness, loss of balance and incoordination
• Sudden
piercing headaches without cause
What causes cardiovascular disease?
Cardiovascular
disease is not limited to one risk factor as it is a combination of genetics
and lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of physical exercise and smoking.
This deadly condition is also associated with other conditions that are
progressively worsening, like diabetes and obesity. The more risk factors that
you have, the greater your chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
Many of the risk
factors associated with cardiovascular disease cause problems because they
affect the blood flow to the heart, brain and body. This phenomenon is called atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis
is the narrowing and thickening of arteries that develops for years without you
even knowing it. This is one of the reasons that cardiovascular disease is
known as the “silent killer.”
The hardening, narrowing
and thickening of the arteries is due to the deposition of fatty material known
as cholesterol to the walls of blood vessels. Inflammation in the body due to
stress, poor diet and physical inactivity is the leading cause of high
cholesterol.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a
fatty substance that is a natural part of the every cell in your body. Your
body needs it for proper healing, brain function and nerve transmission. Your
liver produces cholesterol but it is also a byproduct of the food that you eat.
Stress, injuries
and other aspects that negatively affect the body produce excess cholesterol as
a healing response. Many chronic, or long-term, health conditions will spike
cholesterol levels and put you at risk for heart disease and stroke.
There are two
types of cholesterol: low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density
lipoproteins (HDL). LDL is commonly referred to as “bad” cholesterol, while is
HDL is known as “good” cholesterol. Diet, exercise, sleep and stress reduction
will spike “good” cholesterol while lowering “bad” cholesterol.
What is the connection between high blood pressure and heart disease?
Blood pressure
is controlled by the flexibility and overall size of the blood vessels. Inflammation
and excess cholesterol reduce the flow of blood, which ultimately increases the
pressure within the blood vessel.
When the
pressure increases, your heart must work harder to pump blood through the
smaller space and wherever the blood is traveling to (e.g.: arms, toes, brain,
etc.) will suffer.
Blood carries vital nutrients and oxygen to tissues
throughout body. The diminished blood flow ultimately affects the ability to
heal. Over time, the tissues deteriorate.
How are smoking and heart disease linked?
Smoke contains
chemicals that damage the lining of the blood vessels, producing inflammation
and increasing fatty deposits in the arteries. Ingredients like nicotine raise
blood pressure, increase heart rate and reduce oxygen flow to the tissues.
Smoking is a
destructive lifestyle choice that is highly addictive. It has been linked to
weight gain, weight-loss resistance, physical inactivity and excessive chemical
stress on the body. Deaths resulting from cardiovascular disease could be
greatly reduced by simply eliminating smoking.
Does diet play a part in the development of heart disease?
We are what we
eat. Every choice we make today will impact us tomorrow. Our diet plays a
significant role in the prevention or production of heart disease. Diets high
in artificial processed fats, low in fresh vegetables and fruit, and high in
alcohol are at the greatest risk of heart disease.
To help keep your
blood pressure under control, and therefore lower your risk of cardiovascular
disease, limit the amount of salt you consume. As much as 75 percent of the
salt in the average diet comes from processed foods—everything from bacon to soups
to salad dressings.
Choose foods
without added salt, and preparing home-cooked meals with little or no salt. All-natural
food items such as fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meats have very little
salt.
Is heart disease linked to age or gender?
Your risk of
developing a heart attack increases significantly with age. More than 80
percent of people who die of heart disease are 60 years of age or older. Men
have a greater risk of developing a heart attack earlier in life. Women are
more susceptible to heart attack after menopause due to diminished levels of
estrogen.
Estrogen is
known to raise “good” HDL cholesterol, thus protecting a woman early in life. However,
the positive effects of estrogen are negated if a woman is overweight, suffers
from diabetes or has elevated cholesterol.
Is heart disease hereditary?
You may be at
risk if you have a family member or parent who has developed a heart attack or
stroke at an early age, but genetics is no longer the primary determinant for cardiovascular
disease. Learned lifestyle habits such as exercise, diet and stress management
have been found to play a significant role in the development of high
cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Good lifestyle
habits are the most effective ways to prevent cardiovascular disease regardless
of your age, gender or race. The good news: Even if your mother or father had
heart disease, you can still make personal lifestyle improvements that reduce
your risk significantly. Your choices are not genetic.
Give this
article to someone you love in celebration of the World Heart Day. By working
together we can reduce the devastating effects of cardiovascular disease and
prevent becoming one of the statistics.
Dr. Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com
Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard
Twitter: DrCoryCouillard
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