 | Heather Baima is the Nurse Practitioner for Dr. Ali Hammad, MD. She has been with Dr. Hammad since 2010. She received a Master of Science in Nursing from Pittsburg State University.
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Health & Wellness
2013-02-01 08:46:10
Things you may not know about Coronary heart disease. Part 1
Q-What is Coronary heart disease?
A-Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease. It is the number one killer of women in America. Quite simply put, it is a disorder of the blood vessels of the heart that can lead to a heart attack. A heart attack happens when an artery becomes blocked, preventing oxygen and nutrients from getting to the heart.
Most women and men are not even aware they have coronary artery blockage. Many of those who have a family history of coronary artery disease or have coronary artery disease believe it can be cured with surgery, stent placement or balloon angioplasty. However this is not true. Heart disease is a lifelong condition, in other words, once you have it, you will always have it. So, with this being said the key to treatment is awareness, prevention and compliance with medical care provider recommendations.
So know your risk factors. Risk factors are health conditions or health habits that increase the chances of developing a disease or if you already have the disease, then causing it to get worse. Risk factors can be divided into two categories; those that you can control and those that you cannot.
Risk factors that you can not control include genetics, which means you have a family history of early heart disease. Age is another risk factor for heart disease that we can not control, although we would love to turn back time. Age becomes a risk factor for women around the age of 55-60.
Risk factors that you can control include smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes. So quit smoking. It is also important to “know your numbers”. Get with your medical care provider and have your blood pressure checked and your cholesterol and fasting glucose. Once you get those numbers keep track of them and along with your care provider develop a plan to keep them controlled. Next, get up and get moving. Exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight. Start slow and gradually increase your activity level for your comfort. Always be sure to check with your care provider before starting an exercise regimen to be sure it is appropriate for you. We will continue this conversation, discussing Aspirin and heart attack prevention in another edition of the Q&A Times.
