Special to GUIDON

Every 34 seconds someone dies from heart disease and if you don’t take precautionary measures you could be one of them.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. In fact, the disease accounts for one of every four deaths in the United States, according to National Vital Statistics Reports.

Heart disease refers to coronary artery disease, also known as coronary heart disease, which is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart.

There are several risk factors leading to heart disease. They include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, overweight and obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity and using alcohol.

Studies show that nine out of 10 heart disease patients have at least one risk factor, and many don’t even realize it. One recent case study was a 34-year-old female who went to the doctor twice in one week, with chest pain. Her doctor diagnosed her with ulcers because they thought she was too young to have a heart attack.

“The pain became very intense,” she said. “The ER said there was nothing they could do.”

The woman refused to leave and was later admitted for observation. Later, the doctor on duty saw her EKG and asked, “Where’s the 34- year-old who had the massive heart attack?”

The lady had emergency surgery, but the damage was done. Only part of her heart muscle functions now.

“I had had to quit the job I loved, and my life completely changed,” she said.

There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends heeding “The Simple 7” heart health factors.

Knowing your cholesterol results is a good start. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in your cells. Having cholesterol is normal, but too much can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Cholesterol comes from your body (hereditary) and food. The liver makes about 75 percent and foods contribute 25 percent. LDL is the “bad cholesterol.”  If your body has too much in your bloodstream it can clog your arteries and increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. A cholesterol level of 200 or more requires intervention.

To lower your cholesterol level and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, schedule a health screening, eat foods low in saturated fat and trans fat, increase your physical activity, and maintain a healthy weight. Choose vegetables (three cups of raw vegetables compared to a ½ cup serving of cooked vegetables), choose fresh fruits over fruit juice; eat fish containing omega-3 fatty acids (wild salmon, trout, or herring), take the skin off chicken and turkey, broil your food instead of frying, and choose milk that is 2 percent or 1 percent milk fat.

Keep your sodium intake at less than 1,500 milligrams per day. Limit your soda intake and increase your water consumption to at least two quarts daily unless your health care provider indicates otherwise.

Having high blood pressure is also a risk factor for heart disease. If your blood pressure is uncontrolled it can injure or even kill you. 

Having high blood pressure means the blood in your arteries is flowing too forceful which puts pressure on your arteries causing tears. The tears repair themselves and scar, the scar tissue traps the plaque and forms blockages.

Hypertension is known as the “silent killer” as it is usually asymptomatic. You should try to keep your blood pressure at 120/80.  Having high blood pressure is not curable, but it is manageable.

Start today by getting your blood pressure checked for a baseline. Lifestyle modification is welcomed for healthy living.

A body mass index of 25.0 kg/m2 and higher is considered overweight. There are 145 million people in the United States, age 20 and older, who are overweight or obese.

Obesity is the single biggest risk factor for heart disease. If you possess that extra tire around your middle, you’re at a higher risk for high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes.

So to lose weight and keep it off, improve your dietary intake, exercising regularly and commit to improving your lifestyle. Having a buddy system for support is an excellent way to succeed.

Diabetes is a controllable risk factor for heart disease. Your chances of having a stroke or heart attack increases four times of those that do not have diabetes.

In diabetes the blood sugar rises to dangerous levels. Much of our food turns into glucose or sugar.

Having regular checkups to monitor  blood sugar will keep you alert as to what       

your blood sugar level is.