Understanding Coronary Heart Disease
Caesar A. DeLeo, MD, MHSA | Senior Medical Director | Gateway Health Plan®
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States and is the number one killer of African Americans, 30% more so than U.S. Whites. Short of death, people with severe heart disease can be physically impaired, disabled and financially impacted, leading to a decreased quality of life and burden for their loved ones and caregivers. Yet we know so much more now than we did fifty years ago and have means to prevent this disease. Let me address what we all can do, with the help of doctors, to prevent this disease and its complications.
Coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease that results from the clogging of the small arteries that cover and feed the heart by bringing it oxygen and nutrient rich blood. Through research we know there are certain modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for CAD. Your doctor can assess your risk factors for CAD and make recommendations to reduce that risk by treating certain conditions.
Non-Modifiable Risk Factors: What you can’t change…
You can’t pick your family or your gender. Your family’s history of heart disease may be passed on to future generations through genetics. Being male puts you at greater risk of heart disease that being female. Having a first degree male family member with CAD diagnosed before age 55 or first degree female family member with CAD diagnosed before age 65 means you have a greater risk of having CAD yourself.
Modifiable Risk Factors: What you can change…
These include same commonly heard terms: high blood pressure (hypertension), elevated cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) and elevated blood sugars (diabetes). In addition to making recommendations about weight loss and diet to control any of these three conditions, your doctor may prescribe medication(s) to control these conditions. Typically medication will have to be taken regularly and indefinitely. Never stop taking your medication without alerting your doctor.
Smoking is a significant cardiac risk factor as well as cancer risk factor. Your doctor can help guide your quitting attempts and prescribe medication that may help. Quitting is never an easy task. Never be discouraged as most people who successfully quit have quit many times before staying quit.
Obesity and physical inactivity are risk factors for heart disease. Most experts recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (i.e., brisk walking) per week. That can be broken into smaller 30 minute segments that can fit more easily as part of your daily routine (i.e., walking to and from work, riding a bike, etc.). Regular exercise, portion control and eliminating snacks can go a long way to reducing weight as well.
Emerging research suggests that mental stress and heavy alcohol consumption (>2 oz of alcohol/day) may play a role in increasing the risk for CAD. Take it easy, take time for yourself and avoid regular excessive alcohol consumption.
There will always be some things in life you may not be able to protect yourself from (like a falling meteor), but for those things you can impact (blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, emotional stress and excessive alcohol consumption), the future is in your hands.
Office of Minority Health: Heart Disease and African Americans at http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov
Filed under: Gateway Health Plan