According to the American Heart Association and the Cleveland Clinic, probably 80% of cardiovascular diseases are preventable. Per the CDC (Centers of Disease Control), almost half (47%) of USA citizens have at least 1 of 3 key preventable risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. While heart disease is the leading cause of death in the USA and stroke is the 5th cause, both have very preventable risk factors.
What are some examples of cardiovascular conditions?
Researchers note that these conditions are increasing in populations worldwide. Finding ways to minimize cardiometabolic disease is essential to maintaining a healthy and highly functional society.
The risk factors to develop cardiovascular disease are divided in preventable and not preventable. Here are the main ones:
Preventable:
Non preventable
If you would like to calculate your risk, go to the link below and enter your data. You will need your last cholesterol results and blood pressure.
https://www.cvriskcalculator.com/An excellent place to begin is assessing your current diet and finding ways to make meaningful improvements, like adding more vegetables and some fruit to your meals, fatty low mercury fish, swapping soda for natural flavored water, and avoiding highly processed foods, sugars, flour, and fast food.
Getting plenty of exercise will also do wonders for reducing your risk. Something as simple as adding a daily walk can prompt impressive changes.
If you engage in risky behaviors like smoking or heavy drinking, finding a way to change those habits can be challenging. Ask Dr. Fuentes-Valdes for guidance on how to move beyond these unhealthy habits.
Maintaining a healthy weight is also important, reducing your risk of disease, but it will also help you feel and function better every day.
When you’re ready to begin, to book a visit, schedule online in just a matter of moments from your computer, send us a message in the contact form or call the office.