Preventing Cardiovascular Disease

Do you know someone who has been a victim of a heart attack or stroke?See Video 1 - Watch your own heart

attack.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) – any disease that affects the heart or blood vessels.

See Video 2 – See Video 3• Biggest killer among older adults.• Affects more than 80 million, over 1 million

die annually from CVD disorders.• Largest economic cost amount diseases, $444

billion in 2010 (both health care costs and loss of wages).

Most Common CVDs

• Most Common CVDs– Arteriosclerosis & Atherosclerosis (see book pg.

52)– Coronary Heart Disease & Heart Attack

• Stroke - See Video 4• Hypertension (high blood pressure) See Video

5

Risk Factors Associated with Coronary Heart Disease.

• Smoking – 2Xs as likely to develop CHD.– Increases risk in CVD.– There’s Hope! 10 years after quitting return to nonsmokers level.

• Hypertension (Disease as well as a risk factor)– Diet high in sodium

• High Blood Cholesterol Levels (page 57)– “bad cholesterol” LDL (below 100 is optimal)– “good cholesterol” HDL (above 60 is optimal) – carries cholesterol away from

arteries and back to the liver.• See Doc 1, do we really know about cholesterol?• See Figure 6 (page 55) combining risk factors.

More Risk Factors• Physical Inactivity • Diabetes– 75% of all individuals with diabetes die from some form of CHD.

• Obesity and Overweight• Heredity• Gender• Increased Age• Stress• Alcohol Consumption• Diet and Nutrition

How Can You Reduce Your Risk of CHD.• Don’t Smoke • Reduce Your Stress• Lower Your Blood Pressure• Reduce Blood Cholesterol Levels• Be Physically Active