About Heart Disease and Stroke
Heart disease and stroke are common ailments. They are both major cause of death and have serious debilitating effect on the survivors. Hence it is important to understand how to prevent heart disease and stroke. The Various Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Stroke There are many risk factors for both heart disease and stroke. Some of them are uncontrollable. For example, aging is one of the biggest risk factors for both heart disease and stroke. Gender is a major risk factor for heart disease with men at more risk than women are. Genetics and family history plays a role for both heart disease and stroke. Men and women are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke if others in the family are affected. As is race, with black women bearing higher risk than white women. Black people are also more likely to die of stroke than Caucasian. Controllable Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Stroke There are some risk factors which can managed with resulting lower risk of developing heart disease and stroke. For example, high blood cholesterol level is a major risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. Reducing saturated fats from one's diet and living a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise can reduce cholesterol level. As can medication. Cigarette smoking is another major risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. Quitting this habit will reduce the risk developing heart disease and stroke. It also prevents existing heart disease and stroke problem from worsening. Hypertension or high blood pressure also a risk for heart disease and stroke. It is the single most important risk factor for stroke. Restricting the amount of sodium in one's diet can control hypertension. Alcohol, which can cause blood pressure to increase for some people, should also be moderated or avoided. By understanding the various risk factors for heart disease and stroke, one can appreciate the importance of living a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and exercises. This will also protect against many other ailments.
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