Cardiac Risk Factors

Written Assignments- Cardiac Risk Factors
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Cardiac Risk Factors
Cardiac diseases are illnesses that affect the heart or the blood vessels. These include heart failure, heart attack, hypertension, angina, abnormal rhythms of the heart, and inherited or congenital heart diseases (Mensah et al., 2019). Mensah et al. (2019) highlight that cardiac diseases are the leading cause of death globally and significantly contribute to reduced quality of life. There are several risk factors associated with cardiac illnesses. These include family history, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking and excessive alcohol intake, and a sedentary lifestyle/physical inactivity. The incidence, morbidity, and mortality rates of cardiac diseases are significantly influenced by socioeconomic status, including education level, occupation, and level of income (Psaltopoulou et al., (2017). The paper will research the risk factors.
Risk Factors
One risk factor for cardiac disease is hypertension. Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension occurs when the pressure in the blood vessels rises. When the pressure is uncontrolled, it affects the heart and other body organs such as the kidneys and the brain (Roth et al., 2020). Most often, hypertension will present no symptoms, therefore becoming a silent killer. This predisposes the person to cardiac diseases silently. Therefore, people must regularly check their blood pressure and take necessary measures to lower it if high using either medications or lifestyle and dietary adjustments.
Another risk factor for cardiac disease is diabetes. Diabetes results when sugar/glucose builds up to excess or toxic levels in the blood. The cause could be that the body is not producing enough insulin or that the insulin produced cannot be used as it should. Over time, the sugar buildup in the blood damages blood vessels and the nerves that specifically serve the heart (Roth et al., 2020). Eventually, the person’s risk for cardiac disease rises.
Obesity is a significant risk for cardiac disease. It refers to having an excessive amount of body fat. In obesity, there are elevated triglyceride and bad cholesterol levels, which bring down the good cholesterol levels. According to Roth et al., (2020), when the excess fat builds up in the arteries and other blood vessels, they become clogged and damaged over time, which increases the risk of a heart attack.
A sedentary lifestyle or physical inactivity is another risk factor for cardiac disease. Inactivity increases the risk of obesity, high cholesterol levels, and hypertension. Over time, these conditions increase the risk of cardiac diseases. According to Fiuza-Luces et al., (2018), regular physical activity achieved through exercise can significantly reduce the risk of cardiac diseases.
Smoking and excessive alcohol intake pose a huge risk for cardiac diseases. Smoking, for instance, elevates the risk of heart disease. It damages the heart and vessels over time, leading to an increased risk of conditions of athero...