Wednesday, February 12, 2025

8 Risk Factors That Elevate Your Heart Disease Risk

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Heart disease is the biggest cause of death for both men and women in the United States. This has been true for over 100 years, even though public health has improved a lot.

Doctors know that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking increase the risk of heart disease. They use these factors to find out how at risk patients are and to give treatment advice. Recently, experts have started to think about more things that can increase the risk of heart disease.

Smoking rates are going down, and there are better treatments for cholesterol and blood pressure. Because of this, heart attack and stroke rates have dropped in the last 50 years. But now, new problems like obesity and diabetes are making this progress difficult, as are rising heart failure rates.

To address these issues, the American Heart Association created a new tool. This tool, called PREVENT, helps doctors see the risks of heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes more clearly.

Dr. Michael Nanna, a heart doctor, says that the main risks for heart disease have not really changed. But now, people know more about other risks that can cause heart problems.

Main Risks for Heart Disease

Conditions that cause plaque to build up in blood vessels are very concerning. Plaque can block blood flow and cause problems like chest pain. If plaques break off, they can block important arteries, leading to heart attacks or strokes, as explained by Dr. Jeremy Sussman from the University of Michigan.


Vocabulary List:

  1. Cholesterol /kəˈlɛs.tə.rɒl/ (noun): A waxy substance found in the blood essential for building cells but high levels can increase the risk of heart disease.
  2. Obesity /oʊˈbiː.sɪ.ti/ (noun): A medical condition characterized by excessive body fat that increases the risk of heart disease and other health problems.
  3. Plaque /plak/ (noun): A sticky substance that can build up in blood vessels and potentially block blood flow leading to heart problems.
  4. Heart Failure /hɑrt ˈfeɪl.jər/ (noun): A chronic condition in which the heart does not pump blood as well as it should.
  5. Risk /rɪsk/ (noun): The likelihood of danger or harm occurring in this case related to health issues like heart disease.
  6. Stroke /stroʊk/ (noun): A medical emergency when blood flow to the brain is interrupted leading to potential brain damage.

How much do you know?


What is the biggest cause of death for both men and women in the United States?
Cancer
Heart disease
Stroke
Diabetes


Which of the following factors are known to increase the risk of heart disease according to doctors?
High blood pressure
Asthma
Low cholesterol
Lack of exercise


Which tool helps doctors see the risks of heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes more clearly?
PREDICT
PREVENT
PROTECT
PREVAIL


According to Dr. Michael Nanna, have the main risks for heart disease changed over time?
Yes
No


What can plaque in blood vessels lead to?
Headaches
Heartburn
Chest pain
Joint pain


Who explains that plaques in blood vessels can lead to heart attacks or strokes?
Dr. Michael Nanna
Dr. Jeremy Sussman
Dr. Amanda Lee
Dr. Brian Smith


Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in the United States.


Smoking rates in the United States are increasing.


The tool PREVENT was created by the World Health Organization.


Plaque in blood vessels can block blood flow.


Diabetes is not considered a risk factor for heart disease.


Dr. Michael Nanna believes that people have more awareness of other risks for heart problems now.


Heart disease has been the biggest cause of death for both men and women in the United States for over years.


The main risks for heart disease according to Dr. Michael Nanna have not really changed, but people are more aware of other risks that can cause heart problems .


The American Heart Association created a new tool called to help doctors see the risks of heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes more clearly.


Conditions that cause plaque to build up in blood vessels can lead to issues like chest pain. If plaques break off, they can block important arteries, leading to heart attacks or .


Obesity and diabetes are making progress in reducing heart attack and stroke rates .


Plaque in blood vessels can block blood flow and cause .

This question is required

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