MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT HIGH-CHOLESTEROL AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE PUT YOU AT A HIGHER RISK FOR HEART DISEASE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER RISK FACTORS YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF. FOR INSTANCE, THERE ARE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES LIKE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND PSORIASIS THAT ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT RISK FACTORS FOR HEART DISEASE. IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO SCREEN YOU FOR HEART DISEASE. IF FOUND EARLY, TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.
Doctors will tell you to watch what you eat, to make sure you exercise regularly and will encourage you to find ways to lower your blood pressure, but they may have never told you about other significant risk factors that could have a large impact on your overall health. It’s time to be proactive about your health. With heart disease being the most prevalent disease for both men and women in the United States, we should do our best to know all the ins and outs, for ourselves and those we care about.
HERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER RISK FACTORS YOU SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON:
YOUR MOTHER’S BMI.
Studies have shown that men whose mothers had an above average BMI (Body Mass Index) when they were pregnant or whose placenta was larger than the average are more likely to suffer from heart disease later in life. The correlation between heart disease and their mother’s BMI is due to the fact that the baby’s heart forms while in the mother’s womb. If the mother has an enlarged placenta, the baby’s heart is put at a disadvantage. Men should make sure they make their doctor’s aware of their risk factors.
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
People who suffer from PTSD are more likely to develop heart disease. Studies have shown that people who meet that criteria are more likely to die within three years following diagnosis.
THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND YOUR HEART DISEASE RISK.
The ties seem to stem from strong family ties to people who suffer from both. Lifestyle choices play a major role in the risk. Smoking, drinking, obesity, stress, and a history of depression should be taken into account when looking at your potential risk factors.
RESEARCHERS BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE A LINK BETWEEN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND HEART DISEASE.
It appears to be due to systemic inflammation. That inflammation promotes plaque buildup in the arteries. If small parts of the plaque break loose, they can trigger strokes and be a major risk factor for heart disease.
MIGRAINES ACCOMPANIED BY AN AURA MAY BE A RISK FACTOR FOR HEART DISEASE.
There could be a biological connection between migraines and heart issues.
By Sarah Wester