{"id":631,"date":"2019-05-23T11:17:44","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T15:17:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultra-pharm.com\/loyalty\/?p=631"},"modified":"2019-05-23T11:17:44","modified_gmt":"2019-05-23T15:17:44","slug":"heart-disease-what-you-should-do-to-manage-your-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultra-pharm.com\/loyalty\/heart-disease-what-you-should-do-to-manage-your-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart Disease \u2013 What You Should Do to Manage Your Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may have heard the term \u2018heart disease\u2019 a lot, but what is it really and why should you know about it? Our heart plays a crucial role in the health of our physical bodies as it pumps blood and oxygen to our organs, giving us the ability to go about our daily lives. Heart disease occurs when there are blockages or build-up of plaque in arteries, which restricts<\/span> blood flow to the heart and can lead to heart attacks or strokes.<\/p>\n

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in Trinidad and Tobago, with mortality rates higher than cancer, road accidents and crime1<\/sup>. In fact, heart disease accounts for 33% of all deaths in Trinidad and Tobago, according to World Health Organization (WHO). Whether you\u2019re genetically predisposed to the condition or looking for ways to prevent its occurrence, here are a couple of things you should know.<\/p>\n

What are the causes of heart disease?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aside from genetic predisposition, there are a few precursors to heart disease which should be managed on a continual basis to ensure heart health and longevity. Two important factors to consider are:<\/p>\n

I) High Cholesterol <\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all heard it before \u2013 having high cholesterol can be bad for your heart health. But firstly, what is cholesterol?<\/p>\n

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that\u2019s naturally found in our bodies and plays an important role in the production of hormones, vitamin D and bile. Aside from naturally occurring in our bodies, cholesterol is also found in some foods such as eggs, meat and full-fat dairy products2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve ever done a blood test for cholesterol, you\u2019ll probably be familiar with the two (2) types of cholesterol: LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). LDL is commonly known as \u2018bad cholesterol\u2019 because it combines with other elements within the bloodstream to form plaque which can stick to the artery walls. A build-up of plaque \u2013 also known as atherosclerosis – can be detrimental for your health, as it can narrow your arteries and increase your risk of heart attack, stroke and even death3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

II) Chronic Inflammation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Inflammation is a natural mechanism that occurs when the body attempts to protect itself from harm. It\u2019s the body\u2019s way of signalling the immune system that it needs to heal from wounds or injury, or perhaps ward itself from harmful viruses or bacteria4<\/sup>. When this happens, there may be symptoms such as redness, increased heat, swelling, pain or loss of function5 <\/sup>.<\/p>\n

This type of inflammation is known as acute inflammation<\/em> as it is short-term and occurs in response to a stimulus. However, this inflammatory response may become problematic when it occurs on a long-term, continual basis in the absence of injury, which is known as chronic inflammation<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Chronic inflammation can have several uncomfortable, long-term symptoms if not sufficiently addressed, such as body pain, skin rashes, excessive mucus production and digestion issues. It can also lead to the growth of plaque and blood clots, which can cause heart attacks and stroke6<\/sup>. Lifestyle factors greatly contribute to chronic inflammation, including obesity, diet, smoking, stress and lack of sleep.<\/p>\n

How to Reduce Your Risk for Heart Disease<\/strong><\/p>\n

Heart disease doesn\u2019t happen overnight. While it can be strongly influenced by your biological make-up, your daily habits go a long way in its prevention. Here are a few tips on what you can do to reduce your risk of developing heart disease:<\/p>\n