In last week’s column, I
wrote about heart attack symptoms and what to do when you feel them. Today, we’ll discuss the causes of
heart attack.
A blood clot in a narrowed
coronary artery is the usual cause of a heart attack. The clogged artery
prevents oxygenated blood from nourishing the heart. This can lead to pain, the
death of heart cells, scar tissue and fatal arrhythmias.
There is
a variety of causes that lead to the narrowing of arteries, which is called “atherosclerosis.”
This, in turn, increases the likelihood of a heart attack.
The following are some of
the leading causes of heart attacks:
Genetics •
If early heart attacks run in your family, you may be at risk to have one.
You may have inherited the
tendencies to have high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Cholesterol and
triglycerides • These can lead to deposit build-up in
the arteries, which constricts the flow of blood. High levels of these
substances are dangerous to the heart.
Smoking •
This habit damages the inside walls of arteries allowing cholesterol to collect
on them. And smoking can increase the risk of clots forming. The risk of
getting coronary artery disease is two to four times greater if you smoke.
High blood pressure • Also known as hypertension, this can damage arteries and
speed up atherosclerosis. High blood pressure makes the heart work harder. The
added effort makes the heart thicken and become stiffer. The risk of high blood
pressure increases as you age.
A sedentary lifestyle • Insufficient exercise contributes to high blood
cholesterol levels. Exercise also
prevents obesity and lowers blood pressure. The more vigorous the activity, the
greater your benefits, but any exercise can benefit your health.
Obesity •
Obesity is associated with high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and
diabetes. In addition, excess weight forces the heart to work harder.
Diabetes •
This disease accelerates atherosclerosis. Diabetes strikes more often in middle
age. It is also more common in people who are overweight. About three-quarters
of people with diabetes die of heart or blood-vessel
disease.
Stress •
This can elevate your blood pressure. It may also lead you to gain weight from
overeating, and make you smoke to relieve tension.
Alcohol •
Too much drinking can raise blood pressure and triglyceride levels. However,
the risk of heart disease in people who drink moderately is lower than in
nondrinkers Moderate drinking means one to two drinks a day for a man and one
drink daily for a woman. A drink is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces
of wine or 1.5 ounces of an 80-proof liquor.
Diet • Too
much saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet can narrow the arteries to your
heart.
Age • More
than eight out of 10 people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 or older.
Gender •
Men are at greater risk than women of having a heart attack.
Race •
African-Americans suffer from higher blood pressure and a higher risk of heart
disease than Caucasians. Heart-disease risk is also higher among
Mexican-Americans and Native Americans.
Next week, I’ll discuss
treatment for heart attack victims.
If you have a question,
please write to fred@healthygeezer.com
All Rights Reserved © 2009
by Fred Cicetti