How to Stop Cardiovascular disease in its tracks!

Ninety percent of middle-aged Americans will develop high blood pressure in their lifetime, and approximately seventy percent of those that have it currently do not have it under control. (CDC, 2007) This means that you are not alone, cardiovascular disease is affecting people all around the United States. There are several simple things you can do to be more aware of your risk factors and how to alter the path of cardiovascular disease.

The study,” Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: Guidance from Framingham” shows certain risk factors contribute to increased risk of heart problems. They include: increased age, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, elevated LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, and Diabetes Mellitus (1997). The above risk can be categorized into two types of risk factors, those that are beyond your control, and those that you can change. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, 2006)These risk factors have shown to be found in multiples. Therefore, if you have one risk factor you are more likely to have multiple risk factors. In order to combat cardiovascular disease and the risk factors associated with it, there are certain things that need to be changed. Below are several lifestyle changes that you can make to help improve your future.

Five Lifestyle Changes for YOUR Future
Cigarette smoking cessation
30 minute moderate physical activity on most days
Heart Healthy Diet
the DASH diet- http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/introduction.html
Heart Healthy Diet- http://www.nhlbisupport.com/cgi-bin/chd1/step1intro.cgi
American Heart Association No Fad Diet http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3031890
Weight maintenance/ reduction
Evaluation and treatment of depression
(CDC, 2007)

The American Heart Association takes this information a step further and explains simple ways to do the above recommendations. They include: burning as many calories as you take in, eating a variety of foods from all the food groups, eat less of the poor nutrition foods. They explain each of these in their lifestyle and diet recommendations for 2006 available on the web at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=851.

Sometimes lifestyle changes are not enough to treat cardiovascular disease on their own. There are two other options that can be taken into consideration, medications and medical procedures. However, before seriously considering medications or medical procedures a doctor should be consulted to determine what is best for you.

One medication that has been studied for self medication is aspirin. While an aspirin a day can help those that have had heart attacks, if you have not had one, there maybe some risk associated with taking them. Aspirin has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes for people who have never had one. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, 2006) Therefore it should only be taken after consulting your physician.

Cardiovascular Disease is a serious disease, but with proper care and maintenance of your life you can help reduce your risk. You can help stop the progression of Cardiovascular Disease by using the above guidelines. For more information contact your local health department or physician.


-Brittany Hotmer