werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (10/10/85)
The following is a list of environmental factors that contribute (or don't)
to your risk of having a heart attack. Consider it a list of what you have
to and don't have to worry about. [But don't worry too much - see #7]
Two other important factors are age and sex, but obviously these can't
be altered.
Risk Factors relating to Heart Disease.
The big three are:
1. High Blood Pressure [Hypertension]
2. High Blood Lipids [Hyperlipidemia] (includes Cholesterol)
3. Smoking (esp. in US)
For completeness, some risk (and non-risk) factors:
1. Cigarette smoking. For still unknown reasons, Heart Disease incidence in
US men and women is related to how much they smoke. Smoking contributes to
Atherosclerosis, and in the US, IS the major risk factor. (However, Japanese
and Black Africans smoke more than US men and have less Heart disease,
presumably because of other factors. Japanese and Blacks in the US follow
US trends.)
2. Exercise. Exercise by itself does not lower the risk of heart disease.
However, it promotes weight loss, lower blood pressure, and increased
fibrinolytic activity, so indirectly protects. The last occurs only with
heavy physical work.
3. Obesity. Obesity greatly increases the risk of heart disease, by causing
hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and decreased Glucose Tolerance (diabetes), all
of which contribute to heart disease.
4. Hypertension. The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk of
heart attack, as well as stroke, as well as less dramatic heart problems.
5. Cholesterol. Heart disease is directly related to the proportion of
saturated fats in the blood (and less directly, diet). Incidence of
disease rises exponentially with serum cholesterol levels, which become
significant even at the upper levels of 'normal' lipid values.
6. Carbohydrates. A High Carbohydrate diet has no effect to increase the
risk of heart disease, except for the fact that it makes obesity easier.
[Suprise!]
7. Family History. Important, but only as it relates to risks of familial
hypertension, familial hyperlipidemia, and Diabetes. Otherwise, no relation.
8. Stress. Physical stress can increase the risk of heart disease. The link
between psychological stress (and so-called Type A personality - hard-driving,
perfectionist, workaholic) is less defined. It makes sense, however, it is
difficult to quantitate and is currently under dispute.
It should also be noted that the cause of about half of all atherosclerosis
is unknown. However, at least for the three biggies, the evidence is so
strong as to be compelling.
--
Craig Werner
!philabs!aecom!werner
"... Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous To Your Health"roy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) (10/14/85)
> Two other important factors are age and sex, but obviously these can't > be altered. What do you mean sex can't be altered? To start with, there's man on top vs. woman on top, and I can think of dozens of other alternatives and variations on those basic themes! :-) -- Roy Smith <allegra!phri!roy> System Administrator, Public Health Research Institute 455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
rjb@akgua.UUCP (R.J. Brown [Bob]) (10/14/85)
Does anybody have any numbers for hyperlipidemia when the
blood fat involved is triglycerides. I have what is called
Type IV hyperlipidemia where the triglyceride level is in
the 400-600 range (fasting). My fasting cholesterol level
is 150-175.
Thanks,
Bob Brown {...ihnp4!akgua!rjb}