Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke are still the number one cause of death in the western world today accounting for 38% of all deaths. It is followed by cancer, which accounts for 24%. All of the other causes of death together account for about 38%. Most deaths from cardiovascular disease, or CVD and cancer are preventable. In the United States, Americans will pay $393.5 billion in medical costs for CVD related medical costs this year. We see that in addition to the personal grief and hardships cause by CVD, the economic costs are astronomical.
Risk Factors for CVD
When we speak of risk factors for disease, we can divide them in to two categories: those that can be modified and those that can’t. When it comes to CVD, there are three major risk factors that we cannot change.
·Increasing age—over 83% of those who die from CVD are age 65 or older.
·Male gender—men have a greater risk of dying form CVD then women earlier in life and even after a woman is after menopause and her risk of heart disease increases, it is still not as great as a man’s.
·Heredity and race—Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves. African Americans have a higher rate of CVD than Caucasians. For those with a strong family history of heart disease, controlling other risk factors is crucial.
The risk factors that can be modified are:
·Smoking—smokers risk of developing CVD are up to 4 times higher than non-smokers.
·High Cholesterol
·High Blood Pressure
·Physical Inactivity
·Obesity and Overweight
·Diabetes
There is also what we call “contributing factors” to CVD. They are:
·Stress
·Drinking too much alchohol
Risk Factors for Stroke
·High Blood Pressure—this is far and away the single most important risk factor for stroke
·Diabetes
·Heart Disease
·TIAs—Transient Ischemic Attacks are known also as ‘mini strokes.” It is recognized by having stroke symptoms that go away quickly
·Carotid artery disease—the carotid arteries are located in your neck and supply blood to both sides of the brain. They may become narrowed with a buildup of plaque.
The risk factors that require a lifestyle change are:
·Tobacco use
·Physical inactivity and obesity
·Excessive alcohol intake
·Illegal drug use
The risk factors that are not changeable are:
·Increasing age
·Heredity and race
·Prior stroke
The Warning Signs
It is crucial to know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke. Whereas some heart attacks are sudden and intense, most start slowly. Be aware of the following warning signs and call for emergency help at once. Keep your emergency medical number (101 in Israel and 911 in the USA) displayed on or near your telephone. Time is crucial! These are the warning signs for heart attack:
·Chest discomfort—uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain are all possible signs of a heart attack.
·Discomfort in other areas of the body—pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
·Shortness of breath
·Lightheadedness, nausea, a cold sweat
The warning signs for stroke are:
·Sudden numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
·Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding
·Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
·Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
·Sudden and severe headache with no known cause
CVD and Stroke can be deadly or debilitating. All of the risk factors that can be altered can be done so through lifestyle changes, diet and a properly designed exercise program. A wide variety of medications exist today to treat these risk factors. Although medication is not a long-term solution, it may be necessary until permanent changes can be made. These medications may be life saving for many people. Visit your doctor for a check up and assessment of your risk factors and decide together on an approach for reducing your risk factors, for better health and a longer and better quality of life. And remember the permanent changes in lifestyle, such as exercising, eating a balanced diet and keeping your calories in check are the single best ways to keep your coronary and stroke risk to a minimum is another way to “add hours to your day, days to your year, and years to your life.”
Alan Freishtat is an A.C.E. CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER and a LIFESTYLE FITNESS COACH with over 10 years of professional experience. He is the co-director of the Jerusalem-based weight loss center Lose It! together with Linda Holtz M.Sc. and is available for private consultations, assessments and personalized workout programs. Alan also lectures and gives seminars and workshops. He can be reached at 972-2-651-8502 or 972-50-555-7175, or by email at [email protected]
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One Response
thank you YWN for posting on a topic not heavily stressed in yeshivas/shuls,etc. seems a little more exercise and a little less chulent is in order for many in the frum community.