Heart disease is universally regarded as “the silent killer,” and for good reason! In many cases, these diseases stay dormant, slowly biding their time and waiting until the perfect moment to strike. These moments, however, were mostly observed in older individuals. However, as technology advances, and people have access to more sedentary habits, the factors that lead to heart disease are becoming increasingly common in even younger individuals.

These factors, just like heart disease, were more commonly observed in senior citizens. However, they can manifest at any age depending on the person’s habits and genetic predisposition. The most important conditions that lead to heart disease include high blood pressure and obesity, which are on the rise in the United States. However, most importantly, studies have shown that at least half of all Americans have one out of the three main risk factors for heart disease, which includes high blood pressure, heart cholesterol, and smoking.

High blood pressure is one of the most serious conditions that leads to heart disease if left unchecked. Those with this condition experience unusually high blood pressure levels that extend throughout their entire lives. The force at which the blood courses through the blood vessels will progressively damage their walls, and may lead to long-term heart disease. Furthermore, it is estimated that at least half of the Americans that suffer from high blood pressure either are not aware of their condition or fail to keep their disease under control. High cholesterol, on the other hand, is caused by genetic predisposition, and exacerbated by unhealthy eating habits and sedentarism, and can greatly increase the risk of heart disease. Finally, smoking can cause a variety of damages to the body, including the weakening of the blood vessels which, combined with high blood pressure, is a recipe for disaster.

There are other conditions that can greatly contribute towards heart disease, either directly or indirectly. These include obesity, diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, and an unhealthy diet.

Obesity is when a patient has significant weight in relation to their height (BMI index). This condition can put a lot of stress on the heart, which has to work harder to keep the blood pumping at all times. At least 1 in 3 Americans adults and 1 in 6 children suffer from this condition. On the other hand, diabetes is a lifelong condition characterized by a buildup of sugar in the bloodstream which, just like smoking, can cause long-term damage to the blood vessels. Furthermore, it can also affect the nerves that control the heart, resulting in an increased probability of heart disease. Meanwhile, sedentarism and physical inactivity further increase the damage to the heart and blood vessels as they have to work even harder to supply the body with blood. Lastly, an unhealthy diet with excess sodium can also contribute to high blood pressure. Fortunately, in contrast to hypertension, this type of food-induced high blood pressure can be prevented by switching foods high in sodium for fruits and veggies.

Fortunately, there are many ways to keep healthy and fend off heart disease.

Tips to Keep Your Heart Healthy

First off, dropping the smoking habit is the single most important thing you can do to improve your heart health, as well as your overall hygiene and appearance. Unless you’re very thorough, or regularly engage in corrective treatments, smoking promotes yellowing of the teeth and fingernails. In other words, if you don’t smoke, don’t start, and if you do smoke, consider quitting before the habit can cause any harm.

If you have any lifelong conditions that require treatment, it’s best to seek aid from a team of professionals. Conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can be easily kept under control with medication and a bit of effort on your part. However, it is imperative that you never miss a dose in order to maintain a constant clinical effect of any prescription meds. In the case of diabetes and high blood pressure, adopting light exercise habits for at least 150 minutes per week can make the difference between being healthy and early death.

Speaking of healthy habits, exercising regularly, even if you don’t suffer from any diseases, is a great way to prevent any conditions, even those you are genetically predisposed to experience. Also, following a healthy, balanced diet can ensure that you receive enough nutrients and minerals, while keeping the potentially-harmful substances to a bare minimum.

The advances in medicine and in our understanding of heart disease make it so it’s very easy to prevent and manage this condition. However, when it comes right down to it, it is up to the person to prevent its onset, or manage the conditions in the cases where they develop any of them.