NON-MODIFIABLE:

AGE: The incidence of Heart Disease increases with advancing age but today we are seeing people getting heart attack at a younger age.

SEX: Men are at a greater risk of heart attacks as compared to women but due to excessive stress more women are getting prone to heart diseases.

HEREDITY: People with a strong family history of heart disease are at a greater risk as one cannot change one’s parents. Early prevention can surely decrease the risk.

MODIFIABLE:

HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL:Recognized as one of the first three risk factors leading to heart disease. A fat particle with a complex structure, if present in more than adequate quantity in blood gets deposited to create blockages. A diet rich in cholesterol source is a major culprit.

HIGH BLOOD TRIGLYCERIDES:Increased level of Triglycerides or fat in food is another factor for heart disease. A level of 160 mg/100ml is associated with increased incidence.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: A “silent killer”, High Blood pressure puts an extra strain on the heart and is also a major cause for deposition of cholesterol and fat in the coronary arteries.

OBESITY: Lack of physical exercise & wrong food habits will make a person obese and increases their chances of getting a heart disease.

STRESS AND MENTAL TENSION: Psychological stress is recognized as most important risk factor for heart disease. In absence of other risk factors people can still have angina, if stress is not controlled as it leads to spasm of coronary arteries.

SEDENTARY LIFE STYLE: Modern mechanization makes everything available easily, as a result physical activity of people is almost nil which predisposes them to many disease.

INTAKE OF ALCOHOL: Alcohol owing to it’s structural similarity with glycerol is associated with major risk. It is a source of empty calories and leads to diseases of liver, gastritis etc.

LOW HDL CHOLESTEROL: HDL also called “good cholesterol “ can be another factor for CHD as it binds cholesterol and remove it from blockages.

SMOKING OR TOBACOO CONSUMPTION: Smoking or Tobacco Consumption studies have proved that smoking substantially increases the risk of heart attack. Consuming tobacco in any form is equally hazardous as both are bad for health.

DIABETES MELLITUS: Uncontrolled blood sugar levels associated with obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are responsible for CHD.