KEEP CLEAR OF CVD

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term used for diseases of the heart and/or blood vessels. Diseases such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, cerebrovascular accidents (commonly known as a stroke), peripheral arterial disease and renal disease are all diseases that affect the heart and/or blood vessels. 

The early signs and symptoms of CVD therefore depend on the area of the body affected. For example, if the heart is affected some of the warning symptoms are chest discomfort, shortness of breath on exertion, and an irregular heartbeat. If the legs are affected one may experience pain in the feet and legs, weakness, numbness, leg or foot ulcers.

Risk factors for CVD are diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity (especially around the trunk), heredity, being male or a post-menopause female, advanced age, cigarette smoking and a sedentary lifestyle. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the likelihood of developing CVD. 

A physician will complete an examination and use tools such as the European Society of Cardiology 2010 assessment tool to calculate an individual’s risk for CVD over the next 10 years. 

After completing an examination the physician will highlight where the individual’s age, cholesterol and blood pressure values best lies within the tool.

 The risk is assessed by your age, gender, whether you smoke, and your blood pressure and cholesterol level: Less than 150 mg/dl is scored 4, 150 to 200 is 5, 200 to 250 is 6, 250 to 300 is 7 and above 300 is 8.

So a smoking man aged 60 with a check-up report showing 140mmHg blood pressure and 232mg/dl cholesterol has a 12 per cent risk of having fatal cardiovascular diseases in the next 10 year.

The tool is based on European statistics, and it does not take into account a sedentary lifestyles (lack of physical activity), obesity, a strong family history of premature CVD, low socio-economic status, diabetes (women with diabetes are at five times the risk and men three times compared to other people), low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides, and those who show no symptoms but are known to have pre-clinical atherosclerosis.

The tool is just an indicator and cannot replace the expertise of a medical professional.

Adults older than 40 years old should be screened for CVD. A risk assessment will take into account an individual’s ethnicity, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, smoking history and family history of CVD. The America Heart Association also recommends screening for atrial fibrillation (occasional irregular heartbeat). 

Once all risk factors have been identified, a more in-depth cardiovascular risk calculator tool is used to estimate the total risk of developing CVD.

Most people can do things to improve their health – exercise, stop smoking, eating healthier – but those at moderate-to-high risk of CVD have to find a way. 

Aerobic exercise where you heart rate increases is recommended, for at least 30 minutes a day, five days per week. Swimming, fast-walking and climbing stairs are helpful. But anyone with a history of chronic illness should consult a physician before exercising. 

Total fat intake should be 30 per cent or less of your total energy intake. Keep saturated fats under 10 per cent, dietary cholesterol under 300mg/day and replace saturated fats like butter and lard with mono/poly-unsaturated fats like olive oil. Eat seven servings of fruit and vegetables and two servings of fish per week. 

A healthier lifestyle including exercise and diet modifications, as well as a limited alcohol and quitting smoking, are all great steps to keeping ones risk of CVD down. 

 

For more information and an appointment, contact the Samitivej Heart Institute at (02) 711 8111-2.