Smoking
- Smoking can cause your blood to thicken and be more likely to clot. Since
Smoking exposes you to carbon monoxide, the chemical robs your blood and triggers a build-up of plaque in your arteries.
- The longer you smoke, the higher your risk of heart disease and heart attack increases
Unhealthy Diet
- An unhealthy diet can dramatically increase your risk for CHD.
- Foods high in saturated and trans fats can raise your LDL cholesterol level.
- A high-sodium diet (salts) and alcohol can raise your blood pressure
Physical Activity
- Statistics show that less 1 in 5 American women get enough exercise to prevent heart disease. In-activeness is a major risk factor for heart disease.
- Physical activity can help keep your blood vessels flexible and open so blood can be evenly pumped throughout your body
- A lot physical activity can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression.
- People who are less active and less fit have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure.
Stress/Depression
- Stress can play a major role in causing CHD and Broken Heart Syndrome. Long-term stress and emotionally upsetting events can trigger heart attacks.
- People who are depressed, are two to three times more likely to develop CHD than people who are not.
- “Exercising, maintaining a positive attitude, not smoking, not drinking too much coffee, enjoying a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight are good ways to deal with stress” -Dr. Schiffrin, Canada research chair in hypertension and vascular research at Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.
Websites Used
- https://www.womenshealth.gov/heart-disease-and-stroke/heart-disease/heart-disease-risk-factors/behaviors
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hdw/atrisk
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease/art-20046167?pg=1
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease/art-20046167?pg=2
- http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/StressManagement/HowDoesStressAffectYou/Stress-and-Heart-Health_UCM_437370_Article.jsp#.WZzEYpN97-Y
- http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/cardiovascular_diseases/risks_of_physical_inactivity_85,p00218/