Risk Factors For Developing Heart Disease

There are numerous risk factors for developing heart disease; high LDL cholesterol is only one. Family history plays a major role. Should your father have had cardiac arrest or stroke prior to age 55 or your mother had cardiac arrest or heart stroke prior to 65, you've got a higher risk. The same increased risk factor applies if your siblings had cardiac arrest or strokes in those age brackets. Hypertension, smoking cigarettes, diabetic issues, chronic kidney disease, being 30% or even more over your ideal body weight (as determined by your BMI), metabolic syndrome, leading a sedentary lifestyle, HDL of less than 40 mg/dL and females with early menopause all raise your heart attack and stroke risk factors. A previous personal history of any kind of cardiac event also puts you at a higher risk of getting a cardiac arrest or stroke.

Offsetting factors

There are numerous positive factors that assist offset risk factors. High levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol are very effective in avoiding cardiovascular disease or at least offsetting risk factors. The Framingham research as well as others have recommended that for every single point increase in HDL, there is a corresponding drop in your risk of going into cardiac arrest by 2%-3%. Some people are just plain fortunate and are born with high HDL. Other folks are not so lucky and struggle to increase their HDL and even with excessive physical exercise are helpless to raise it. HDL below 40 is regarded as a risk factor. HDL of more than 60 is considered a positive factor for heart problems. Total cholesterol readings are not the best measure of cardiovascular disease risk. Even though high HDL levels and low LDL levels are no guarantee, your risk factors are most assuredly lowered with high HDL and further lowered with low LDL levels. Overall or total high cholesterol levels are less accurate as a predictor but most often a higher total cholesterol reading is attributable to high LDL.

Physical activity a precautionary for heart disease

Consistent exercise or work out is a very real and effective way to lessen the risk of cardiac arrest and cerebral vascular accidents. Cardiovascular exercise is the best way to strengthen your heart muscle, raise HDL levels and reduce blood pressure. To obtain the most heart health advantage from any exercise routine, you should get your heart rate elevated. If you have not exercised for an extended time period and otherwise lead an inactive lifestyle, you ought to consult your doctor prior to starting any exercise regime. Once you have been given the go ahead you still need to start slow and increase your exertion at a rate you are comfortable with for two reasons. Firstly is your muscles as well as your heart require time to build up. Trying to accomplish it all at once will make you sore and might not be the smartest for your heart. The second reason is that if you injure yourself by using muscles and tendons which are not accustomed to that kind of intense use, you may end up with injuries or be so tender that you don't feel like remaining consistent with your exercise routine. Regularity is the most important factor. You will improve your conditioning rapidly if you are regular with your newfound exercise session.