Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factor

Everyone takes for granted how important it is to have a healthy heart. Everyone seems to agree that there are number of things in general that you should do to be "heart healthy". But what does that really mean? In what ways can you actually change your diet and lifestyle to make a difference when it comes to heart and cardiovascular disease? Risk factors are just that: factors. There is a number of different combinations of things that have to happen to heighten or lower your chances of contracting such diseases. Here are the main cardiovascular disease risk factors that you need to know, and also, what to do about them.

Upon knowing the risk factor of heart diseases, we should also be aware of cardiovascular training. Performing cardiovascular training as a part of daily habit will prevent us from acquiring the risk factors mention below.

First of all, know that not all cardiovascular disease risk factors are changeable. Some can't be changed. For instance, age is a major factor; very few cases of heart disease are contracted under the age of 35, and the majority are among people 55 and older. That said, these unchangeable cardiovascular disease risk factors only make the ones that you can change all the more important.

One of the most potent cardiovascular disease risk factors is cigarette smoking. Regular smokers of tobacco products have two to four times the risk of contracting heart disease as non-smokers. That fact alone should really make you consider quitting as soon as possible.

High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol are related cardiovascular disease risk factors. In fact, most of the other cardiovascular disease risk factors are intertwined. For instance, obesity is a common symptom among those with heart disease. Obesity usually stems from a inactive lifestyle and a diet high in fats and processed sugars. This combination of a poor diet and lack of exercise is also the chief causes of high blood cholesterol (and subsequently, high blood pressure). In other words, the easiest way to avoid cardiovascular disease risk factors is simple and twofold.

One: you should immediately change your diet. Remove as much fat as possible, stop or substantially decrease the amount of red meat, butter and other dairy products from your diet. Eliminate the pre-cooked meals, processed foods (frozen meals and packaged cookies), and fast food from your menus. And start jogging, walking, bicycling or other activity. The more vigorous the workout, the most the risk factor is decreased, but even a daily thirty minute walk can go a long way in reducing your cardiovascular disease risk factors.