These are the major risk factors you can modify, treat or control by changing your lifestyle or taking medicine.

Tobacco smoke — Smokers' risk of developing coronary heart disease is 2–4 times that of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is a powerful independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary heart disease; smokers have about twice the risk of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking also acts with other risk factors to greatly increase the risk for coronary heart disease. People who smoke cigars or pipes seem to have a higher risk of death from coronary heart disease (and possibly stroke) but their risk isn't as great as cigarette smokers'. Exposure to other people's smoke increases the risk of heart disease even for nonsmokers.


High blood cholesterol — As blood cholesterol rises, so does risk of coronary heart disease. When other risk factors (such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke) are present, this risk increases even more. A person's cholesterol level is also affected by age, sex, heredity and diet.


High blood pressure — High blood pressure increases the heart's workload, causing the heart to thicken and become stiffer. It also increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.


Physical inactivity — An inactive lifestyle is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease. The more vigorous the activity, the greater your benefits. However, even moderate-intensity activities help if done regularly and long term. Exercise can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, as well as help lower blood pressure in some people.


Obesity and overweight — People who have excess body fat — especially if a lot of it is at the waist — are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors. Excess weight increases the heart's work. It also raises blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. It can also make diabetes more likely to develop. Many obese and overweight people may have difficulty losing weight. But by losing even as few as 10 pounds, you can lower your heart disease risk.


Diabetes mellitus — Diabetes seriously increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Even when glucose (blood sugar) levels are under control, diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, but the risks are even greater if blood sugar is not well controlled. About three-quarters of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. If you have diabetes, it's extremely important to work with your healthcare provider to manage it and control any other risk factors you can.


What other factors contribute to heart disease risk?

Individual response to stress may be a contributing factor. Some scientists have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress in a person's life, their health behaviors and socioeconomic status. These factors may affect established risk factors. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would.

Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. It can contribute to high triglycerides, cancer and other diseases, and produce irregular heartbeats. It contributes to obesity, alcoholism, suicide and accidents.

The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one drink for women or two drinks for men per day) is lower than in nondrinkers. One drink is defined as 1-1/2 fluid ounces (fl oz) of 80-proof spirits (such as bourbon, Scotch, vodka, gin, etc.), 1 fl oz of 100-proof spirits, 4 fl oz of wine or 12 fl oz of beer. It's not recommended that nondrinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase the amount they drink.

http://www.americanheart.org

Yes.

Yes. I could die from a heart attack if I see P. I'm sure about that.

Are you going to use this thread to bash chubby people again?

applekisses said:

Of course not applekisses. Thats not what Im about at all. Im sure alot of peeps saw Oprah today. I thought it was a very powerful show and I wanted to continue the conversation.
[Edited 10/19/05 14:47pm]

You forgot to add:

Are you Scottish?: If you were born in Scotland you are practically assured to die of heart disease. If you not a victim of violence first.

dreamfactory313 said:

That IS what you're about...but, I won't jack your thread any longer...sorry about that...

I feel bad that u think I was bashing overweight people. Im just trying to educate people. I have suffered great loss because of people being ignorant to cardiovascular related diseases. I consider it my life's purpose now. Nothing that I do or say is meant to demean or bash anyone, only to enlighten and empower.

How is everything going with your situation? Is there anything else we can do to help?

dreamfactory313 said:

Not jacking this thread any longer...carry on...

Dude, I truly have no idea what juice is still powering this shell. I come from Glasgow. I have never eaten a vegetable, sucked a fruit nor exerted myself into the realm of physical movement termed and imprisoned 'exercise' by post 1890's western culture since PE classes in school. I turn 26 in one hour and I still don't mind what looks back at me in the looking glass. Although, I do loathe the elevation the bodies physical appearence being cheerleaded by dumpling-headed morons who's most meaningful relationship in life is with a TV remote. I often wish I was blind, I'd be a better person. Still, despite my flexabiliy with our subconcious Green Mile guard's magic star stamper, slipped into my underwear with twice the benefit it should promote, I still think my brain's working pretty fine. And I also often wonder which puppym rainbow massacre thoughts I could heamorrage if I started on vitamins. Are they as good as cocaine, man? What gives?

Steadwood said:

Did you enjoy smoking?

applekisses said:

I don't think u know the place where Im comming from when I talk about issues related to heart disease. There are people in my family that I loved more than life itself that are no longer with me because they died because of heart disease. Eveything that I do is for them and the hope that others can prevent the same tragedies in their lives. Ive made this my career for Christs sake. I am not trying to put anyone down. Im trying to help people. I didnt get my degree from a man with a trench coat in a dark alley! What Im saying is the truth! Celebrating obesity is dangerous just like celebrating anorexia or steroid use is dangerous. You never saw me start a thread praising rail thin gaunt looking folks. Did you? This is about gaining control of our lives, not putting anyone down.

Number23 said:

Good question....

I don't think I enjoyed it...rather I felt it helped me through the day

How wrong

Steadwood said:

Mm. I could write for hours on this, but obviously I won't. But what my brief 25 years and 364 days on this rock spinning around an infinite universe have taught me is that anything is acceptable in moderation. It's the battle inside that has to be rode like a shitfilled rocking horse, not the imaginitive one with the personified substance acting as blame. It's ourselves we fight. I do a lot of, ha, 'drugs', I drink most nights, I smoke, but I can go weeks, months without either. I have a strong moral base and fibre. It's when helium people get invlved with addictive substances, they...fly away. But others are born with anchors round my ankles. I need more sex. I hope I dont go bald.

Today's Oprah:

The first heart is a normal healthy human heart, the second is a diseased heart.
For more photos and explanation, go to:
http://www2.oprah.com/hea..._201.jhtml

Number23 said:

What's moderate for one isn't for the other

Sometimes we just find out a bit too late...but they are the risks we take in the choices we make.

And I wish I had the cure for baldness

Steadwood said:

charlottegelin said:

The 'sin' in moderation or the baldness? And if the baldness...where?

Number23 said:

On mi bonce...



Happy Birthday btw...

I've been having chest pains lately....do any of you get them?

My grandpa died of a stroke.

dreamfactory313 said:

Living on the edge!

bkw said:

IrresistibleB1tch said:

bkw said:

answer my question...

VOICE OVER: As the horrendous Black Beast lunged forward, escape for Arthur and his knights seemed hopeless, when, suddenly ... the animator suffered a fatal heart attack.

ANIMATOR: "Aaaaagh!"


VOICE OVER: The cartoon peril was no more ... The Quest for Holy Grail could continue.

unlucky7 said:

You need to see a doctor. What are you waiting on?

GeminiMoon said:

yeah, but anyone else get chest pains, or ever had one?

oops
[Edited 10/20/05 17:29pm]