RISK FACTORS FOR CVD
The following factors increase a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease:
- GENETIC
- Risk is increased if your parents have CVD.
- Different chances of inheriting the defective genes; two recessive / one dominant allele = inherited
- Represented via punnett square
- DIET
- some vitamins act as antioxidants, reducing the damaging effects of free radicals
- high salt levels cause the kidneys to retain water à high internal fluid levels à increasing B.P
- AGE
- More likely as you get older.
- Aging arteries — less elastic — easily damaged — blood clot / atherosclerosis / heart attack
- GENDER
- Incidence is much higher for men than women.
- HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
- SMOKING
- carbon monoxide is carried by haemoglobin instead of O2 à lack of O2
- nicotine stimulates adrenaline release, increasing heart rate and blood pressure
- chemicals damage endothelium triggering atherosclerosis à narrows artery à high B.P
- decreased levels of HDLs
- INACTIVITY
- most common risk factor
- reduces blood pressure = dangerous b/c cells lack oxygen
- exercise can halve the risk of developing CHD, reduce risk of Type II diabetes and raises HDL levels
- STRESS
- Adrenalin released à increased blood pressure (b/s of constricting arteries), poor diet and increased alcohol consumption.
- ALCOHOL
- Heavy drinkers have an increased risk of CHD as alcohol raises blood pressure, contributes to obesity and causes irregular heartbeat. It also increases levels of LDLs.
- Damages liver à liver cant remove glucose + lipids from blood
- Liver converts alcohol to ethanol which ends p in LDL à plaque deposition
- Moderate amounts of alcohol may increase HDL levels.