YourHealthMatters : Cardiovascular Health
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Work with your doctor to achieve the 4 goals for cardiovascular health:

  1. Keep your blood pressure under 140/90 mmHg
  2. Keep bad cholesterol (LDL) under 100mg/dl
  3. Be tobacco free
  4. Take aspirin daily as recommended

Talk to your doctor about your specific targets for cardiovascular health, as they may differ based on your individual needs.

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What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease includes coronary artery disease, heart attack, angina, atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease.

Cardiovascular disease often occurs when cholesterol (koh-LES-tuh-rawl) and other substances build up in your blood. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body needs. But when you have too much in your blood, it can build up on the walls of your arteries. The build-up of cholesterol in arteries is called plaque. This build-up can block the flow of blood to your heart, so your heart has to work harder. Sometimes, this blockage is bad enough to cause a heart attack or stroke.

Heart attacks can make you have chest pain or be short of breath because not enough blood is getting to your heart. Over time, coronary artery disease can weaken the heart muscle. This may lead to heart failure, a serious condition in which the heart can't pump blood the way that it should. An irregular heartbeat, called an arrhythmia, can also develop.

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Strokes may be caused by clots and blockages in blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the brain. In some cases strokes may be due to high blood pressure that causes blood vessels in the brain to rupture and bleed.

How does cardiovascular disease affect people in our community?

cardiovascular_health_learn-details.jpg According to The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, 47% of adults in our community have been told by their doctor or other health care provider that they have cardiovascular disease.

Who is at risk for cardiovascular disease?

Both men and women are at risk for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:

  • High cholesterol
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Sleep apnea - this condition causes people to stop sleeping normally one or more times during the night and sometimes even stop breathing.
  • Not exercising
  • Stress
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Family history of heart disease

What is recommended care for cardiovascular disease?

Achieve cardiovascular health by:

  • Checking your blood pressure, both in your doctor’s office and at home.
  • Keeping a record of your blood pressure and bringing it with you to your doctor’s visit.
  • Eating healthy, well-balanced meals and reducing your salt intake.
  • Getting a blood test to check your cholesterol levels, and talking with your doctor about what the numbers mean and a plan of action.
  • Looking for and attending local programs to help you quit smoking. Even if you’ve tried to quit before and eventually relapsed, research shows each time you quit, you are more likely to eventually stop smoking.
  • Talking to your doctor about the pros and cons of taking an aspirin daily.

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