Heart Disease
What is coronary heart disease? Coronary heart disease is also called coronary artery disease and is described as blood vessels located around the heart that contain plaque. Plaque is a build up of fat, cholesterol, calcium or other substances. As we age our blood vessels narrow because of the plaque build up, and a condition called atherosclerosis develops.
Plaque buildup happens in all blood vessels including the blood vessels in your brain, therefore when you have a history of coronary heart disease you are also at risk for having a stroke. About every 34 seconds, an American will suffer a heart attack. Risk factors for heart disease mimic stroke risk factors. The more risk factors you have the greater risk you are for a stroke or heart attack. The percentage of people with a first myocardial infarction who will have a stroke within five years at ages 40–69 is 4 percent of men and 12 percent of women. At age 70 and older, 6 percent of men and 11 percent of women will have a stroke after having a heart attack. Reducing your risks for a heart attack will also reduce your risk for stroke.
How are heart disease risk factors related to stroke?
Some risk factors affect the risk of stroke indirectly by increasing the risk of heart disease. These secondary risk factors include:
- High blood cholesterol and triglycerides
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity or overweight
High Cholesterol
What is high cholesterol? Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids in our bloodstream. Cholesterol is important because it helps to form cell membranes. High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease and strokes. Cholesterol is carried in your blood stream by lipoproteins. You have several kinds of lipoproteins in your blood, however the focus is on high-density protein and low-density protein. When your physician orders a lipid profile he/she wants to know if you have high cholesterol in your blood. Click here for additional information.
Total cholesterol refers to your overall total about of cholesterol that is in your bloodstream. Levels below 200 lower your risk for coronary heart disease.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is sometimes referred to as your “good cholesterol” and provides information related to your risk for heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is sometimes referred to as your “bad cholesterol” and provides information related to your risk for heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
How to control your cholesterol levels?
- After age 20 and older expect your physician to test your lipid profile
- Take medications as prescribed to control your high blood pressure
- Avoid tobacco smoke
- Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight
- Get regular physical activity
Obesity
What is the obesity? Obesity or overweight is defined as having too much body fat. What is the difference between overweight and obesity? A simple way to determine if you are overweight is to measure your waist. Women should have a waist size less than 35 inches and men less than 40 inches. Another was to determine if you are overweight or obese is to determine your body mass index (BMI).
The body mass index formula assesses body weight relative to height. It's a useful, indirect measure of body composition, because in most people it correlates highly with body fat. Weight in kilograms is divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2). Or multiply weight in pounds by 703, divide by height in inches, then divide again by height in inches. In studies by the National Center for Health Statistics,
- BMI values less than 18.5 are considered underweight.
- BMI values from 18.5 to 24.9 are normal.
- Overweight is defined as a body mass index of 25.0 to less than 30.0 (consistent with U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans). A BMI of about 25 kg/m2 corresponds to about 10 percent over ideal body weight.
- Obesity is defined as a BMI of 30.0 or greater (consistent with criteria of the World Health Organization), or about 30 pounds or more overweight. Extreme obesity is defined as a BMI of 40 or greater.
To calculate your BMI and for additional information on ways to reach your goal weight click here.
Smoking
The risk of ischemic stroke in current smokers is about double that of nonsmokers after adjustment for other risk factors. Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. It accounts for more than 440,000 of the more than 2.4 million annual deaths. Click here for additional information.
Sickle Cell Disease
What is Sickle Cell Disease? Sickle cell disease (also called sickle cell anemia) — This is a genetic disorder that mainly affects African-American and Hispanic children. "Sickled" red blood cells are less able to carry oxygen to the body's tissues and organs. These cells also tend to stick to blood vessel walls, which can block arteries to the brain and cause a stroke.
Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. Over 780,000 Americans will suffer a stroke this year and nine out of ten stroke survivors will sustain long-term impairment. Stroke costs the US healthcare system over 62 billion dollars annually.