What Else Affects Heart Disease?

April 3, 2023 at 4:52 pm

Continuing our series, A guide to a Healthy Heart talking about other things that can contribute to heart disease. A number of other factors affect heart disease, including certain health conditions, medicines, and other substances. Read on to discover what you need to know to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Stress

There are a number of ways that stress is linked to heart disease. A commonly reported “trigger” for a heart attacks is an upsetting event, especially one that involves anger. Overeating, heavy drinking and smoking are some common ways of coping with stress. These are unhealthy coping mechanisms.

There are health habits that can be protective against heart disease. We have mentioned many times the importance of regular physical activities to lower your risk of heart disease. Physical activity also helps to relieve stress. Having good relationships helps to reduce the chance of developing heart disease.

There are stress management programs that can help you find new ways of handling everyday life challenges. You can also talk with your healthcare provider to see if there are programs in your area.

We don’t understand all the connections between stress and heart disease but there are a few things are clear. Staying physically active and have good relationships can help you be happier and live longer. If you don’t have someone to share your feelings and concerns with you may want to consider talking with a therapist.

Alcohol

Recent research suggests that moderate drinkers are less likely to develop heart disease than people who don’t drink any alcohol or who drink too much. Small amounts of alcohol may help protect against heart disease by raising levels of HDL “good” cholesterol.

If you are a nondrinker, this is not a recommendation to start using alcohol. If you are a pregnant woman, if you’re planning to become pregnant, or if you have another health condition that could make alcohol use harmful, you should not drink. Otherwise, if you’re already a moderate drinker, you may be less likely to have a heart attack.

Would you be considered a moderate drinker?

Moderate drinking is defined as no more than one drink per day for women, and no more than two drinks per day for men, according to the “U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” Count as one drink:

12 ounces of beer
5 ounces of wine
11/2 ounces of 80-proof hard liquor

There are other factors whether alcohol provides protection against heart disease. Weigh the benefits and risks and talk to your doctor about your personal risks. Ask about other health conditions that may be affected by drinking alcohol. Talking with your healthcare team may help you decide whether moderate drinking to lower heart attack risk outweighs the possible increased risk of other medical problems.

If you choose to use alcohol, moderation is the key. Heavy drinking causes many heart-related problems. Having more than three drinks per day can raise your blood pressure and your triglycerides levels. Binge drinking can contribute to a stroke. Having too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle and lead to heart failure. People who drink heavily on a regular basis have higher rates of heart disease than moderate or non-drinkers.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that is a risk factor for heart disease. When sleeping a person with sleep apnea will briefly and repeated stop breathing. Left untreated sleep apnea can lead to heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Men are twice as like as women to have the condition and it tends to develop in middle age. Overweight and obesity, smoking and alcohol or sleeping pill use increases the risk of sleep apnea. If there is a family history, the risk increases as well.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

Heavy snoring
Gasping during sleep
Choking during sleep
Extreme daytime sleepiness

If you are experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea talk with your healthcare team. They may order a test called a polysomnography which is usually performed in a sleep center overnight.

If you doctor tells you that you have a mild case of sleep apnea ask about these Self-help treatments and if they are right for you:

If you are overweight lose at least 10% of your current weight.
If you smoke quit
Avoid alcohol.
Avoid sleeping pills.
Sleeping on your side rather than your back may help.

If these methods don’t help or you case is more severe you need a mechanical device to help maintain a regular breathing pattern. It does this by increasing air pressure through the nasal passages via a face mask. For very serious cases, surgery may be needed.

New Risk Factors

We know that major risk factors such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and smoking boost heart disease risk. Researchers are studying other factors that might contribute to heart disease, including inflammation of the artery walls. Several emerging risk factors have been identified. We don’t know for sure yet whether they lead to heart disease or whether treating them will reduce risk. While these possible risk factors are not recommended for routine testing, ask your doctor whether you should be tested for any of them.

C-reactive protein (CRP)

High levels of CRP may indicate inflammation in the artery walls. A simple blood test can measure the levels of CRP in the blood. In many cases, a high CRP level is a sign of metabolic syndrome. Treatment of the syndrome with lifestyle changes—weight loss and regular physical activity—can often lower CRP.

Homocysteine

High blood levels of this amino acid may increase risk for heart disease. It may be possible to lower elevated levels of homocysteine by getting plenty of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 in your diet. Lp(a) protein. This lipoprotein may make it easier for blood clots to form. Niacin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, may help to lower Lp(a) protein levels.

Remember, your risks for heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and other conditions may change as you age, so review your health needs regularly with your doctor. New treatments that are safe and effective may become available. Stay informed and proactive about your health.

Dr. Bobish

Dr. Bobish and her team’s goal is to help you reduce your risk of heart disease. Helping you to understand your risk factors and make healthful lifestyle changes.

Remember regardless of age or current state of health it is never too late to start protecting your heart. It is also never too soon and the sooner you act the better. Follow us on Facebook to see our latest post helping to keep you heart healthy. You can also explore all our articles that offer diet and exercise tips, recipes and information on procedures and heart disease.

Dr. Bobish and her team focus on preventative care and are here to support you. Alpine Cardiology provides patients with education as well as compassionate care and treatment. We are committed to keeping you healthy and heart smart! Request an appointment at 989-448-7002

Guide to a Healthy Heart

We are committed to keeping Northern Michigan healthy and heart-smart!

Over the next several months we will be publishing a series of articles that will become A Guide to a Healthy Heart. By breaking these guidelines into chapters we are able to offer more in depth information on the topics. Watch our Facebook page or website for the latest article.

Alpine Cardiology’s goal is to give you a better understanding of how to live a healthy lifestyle and to take care of your heart. To take the mystery out of what the tests are and what they mean. To encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider about your risk factors and how to reduce your risk. The more you know and understand the more likely you are to be successful in reducing risk and having a healthier lifestyle.

Links to published chapters are below if you would like to explore the guide more.