|
Congestive Heart Disease Risk Factors
Heart failure is the end result of congestive heart
disease (CHD), which is frequently a long term effect of coronary heart
disease and myocardial infarction when left ventricular damage is extensive
enough to impair cardiac output. Other diseases of the heart also may cause
congestive heart failure, including structural and inflammatory disorders.
Congestive heart disease is more of an acquired condition caused primarily
by poor lifestyle choices and certain diseases that contribute to its
effects. These are all considered modifiable risk factors which mean that
with proper lifestyle changes or disease management the risk of getting this
form of heart disease is greatly minimized.
Pathologic or disease conditions that can lead to congestive heart disease
include the following:
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) – This is a blood pressure reading that
is consistently higher than 140/90. Hypertension affects more than one-third
of all people over the age of 50 in the United States.
• Diabetes Mellitus – Diabetes is associated with higher blood lipid levels,
a higher incidence of hypertension, and obesity which are all risk factors
for CHD. Diabetes also has detrimental affects on the blood vessels,
contributing to atherosclerosis.
• Hyperlipidemia – This condition is an abnormally high level of blood lipid
and lipoproteins. These lipoproteins carry cholesterol in the blood.
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) carry the majority of the cholesterol which
it then deposits on the arterial wall promoting atherosclerosis. High
density lipoproteins (HDL) on the other hand clear cholesterol from the
arteries and move it to the liver where it is removed from the body.
• Metabolic Syndrome – This is a group of related risk factors occurring in
the same individual: abdominal obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension,
insulin resistance, and an increased tendency toward clotting and
inflammation. Metabolic syndrome appears to significantly increase the risk
for premature congestive heart disease.
Lifestyle or independent risk factors are behavioral in nature and are up to
the individual to modify or eliminate in order to reduce the risk of CHD.
These include:
• Smoking – cigarette smoke is responsible for more death from congestive
heart failure than from lung cancer or pulmonary disease. Males who smoke
are 2 to 3 times more at risk of developing heart disease than the nonsmoker
while women who smoke have 4 times the risk.
• Obesity – This is defined as body weight greater than 30% over ideal body
weight. Obese people have higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and
hyperlipidemia. Obese men over 50 years of age have twice the incidence of
congestive heart disease and heart attacks then men who are within 10% of
their ideal weight.
• Sedentary Lifestyle – Physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk
of CHD. Research indicates that people who exercise and maintain an active
lifestyle are less likely to suffer congestive heart disease than sedentary
people.
• Diet – Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unsaturated fatty
acids have an apparent protective effect against CHD.
Congestive heart disease can be avoided if you take the proper steps to
manage, limit, or eliminate these modifiable risk factors. | 
