Every minute someone dies from cardiovascular disease in the United States. Numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) agree that every year more people die from this cause than from any other. Genetic factors may determine a certain prevalence, but an unhealthy lifestyle plays a crucial role in risk factors.
Cardiovascular diseases are a group of disorders that include acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, better known as strokes, renal impairment or failure, and loss of visual acuity, among other conditions.
According to the CDC, every 34 seconds someone has a heart attack, and every minute someone dies from an episode related to heart disease in the United States.
“The risk factors are divided into two groups: acquired and genetic.
Acquired factors are lifestyle habits, such as: somewhat or very unhealthy eating habits that are high in carbohydrates and fat; lack of sufficient regular exercise, consuming toxic substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs, and obesity. Whilst Genetic factors, however, are those we are born with and that cannot be changed,”
said Hernán Fernández, a cardiovascular surgeon at Nuevo Hospital Bocagrande (NHBG)
Here are some recommendations on how to prevent cardiovascular diseases:
1. Regular exercise a minimum of 3 times per week.
2. Not eating foods that promote cholesterol formation, such as fried foods and flour.
3. Not smoking, consuming alcohol, and other types of hallucinogenic drugs.
4. When there is a history of acute myocardial infarction in one’s family history, especially younger than 50 years old, this is a genetic factor that must be considered.
For patients who already have been diagnosed or who have a cardiovascular pathology, these recommendations are even more important. Likewise, according to the WHO – every year more people die from cardiovascular disease than from any other cause. It is calculated that 17.5 million people died in 2012, representing 31% of all deaths recorded worldwide.
Related:
Tai chi and Qigong Could be Beneficial for Cardiovascular Conditions;
A Cup of Tea a Day May Lower Heart Disease Risk;
Long Working Hours Raises Stroke Risk
Cover image: drorestesg.com
