Heart Health Leadership Manual

How We Put Ourselves at Risk

1. Smoking
2. High Blood Pressure
3. High Cholesterol
4. Physical Inactivity

People who have one or more of these risk factors are at an increased risk of developing Heart, Disease. Smoking, when combined with any of the other risk factors, greatly increases the level of risk.

Let's look at each of the major risk factors.

High Cholesterol

We all know that cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. Most people know that cholesterol is a kind of fat. What many people do not fully understand is the link between fat in our diet, and cholesterol in our blood.

Cholesterol is a type of fat which can be found both in our blood and in foods we eat. Most of the cholesterol in your body is made in your own liver. To be healthy, we all need a certain amount of cholesterol. When we have too much cholesterol in our blood. however, fatty deposits can build up 'on the inside of our blood vessels. This is how cholesterol leads to heart disease.

"Dietary Cholesterol, or the cholesterol we eat, is found only in food from animal sources. This includes all meats, dairy products, and also fats like lard and butter which come from animals. For most people, the amount of cholesterol in the diet is not what determines the amount of cholesterol in the blood. However, blood cholesterol is affected by the amount of fat, from all sources, animal and vegetable, in your diet. What this means is that even though you may eat only fats which do not themselves contain cholesterol, you can still build up high cholesterol levels in your blood.

Only your doctor can order a blood cholesterol test, interpret the results, and recommend a course of action to correct high blood cholesterol.

We can control many of the risk factors for high blood cholesterol:

• total fat eaten
• smoking
• overweight
• physical inactivity

High Blood Pressure

You won't know you have high blood pressure unless you have it checked. Healthy adults should have their blood pressure checked every two years. Adults with one or more of the four major risk factors for Heart Disease, and pregnant women, should have their blood pressure checked more often.

The cause of high blood pressure is unknown, however, contributing factors have been identified:

• age ... being over 55 puts you at increased risk
• family history
• native origin
• post-menopausal women

While we cannot control these risk factors, there are others which we can control:

• smoking
• overweight
• excessive salt Intake
• excess alcohol consumption
• stress
• physical inactivity

Controlling blood pressure may help prevent Heart Disease. Healthy eating and regular physical activity are considered the good methods for contributing to the prevention and control of high blood pressure in most people. If your doctor orders medication you should follow his/her direction.

Physical lnactivity

Physical Inactivity can contribute to high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and obesity, all of which can increase your risk for heart disease. Regular physical activity, properly undertaken, can be effective in preventing and limiting the disabling effects of Heart Disease. Simply put, active living is an important part of a Heart Healthy lifestyle.

Smoking

Smoking is the most preventable risk factor for heart disease. Chemicals in cigarette smoke have a damaging effect on the entire circulatory system. There is no safe amount of cigarettes, and no safe way to smoke. Giving up cigarettes is not easy, but it is critical. Smokers need a lot of support and encouragement when they decide to quit.

Others

The following activities and conditions, while not considered major risk factors, may increase your individual risk for Heart Disease;

• excessive alcohol consumption
• obesity
• being a male
• being over the age of 55
• having a family history of Heart Disease