Who Can Develop Heart Disease

Heart Series: 4- Who can develop heart disease

Anyone can develop heart disease if they are not careful enough after a certain age, about what they eat, when they eat, or the lifestyle they follow. Their daily routine, food, physical activities, or lack of them, and stress reflect on their health, and their heart is no exception.

Heart disease is generally thought of as something that will affect older adults or if it is in your family you are bound to get it. However, the fact is that it can impact people of all ages and backgrounds. But, it is advisable to understand who is at risk for prevention and early intervention.

In fact, heart disease does not occur only due to poor lifestyle. Lifestyle factors such as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption do significantly increase the risk, there are other factors involved, including age, gender and medical conditions.

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What is heart disease?

Heart disease affects the heart's structure and function leading to problems that affect quality of life. There can be many types of heart problems affecting across ages and genders. These can be:

Coronary artery disease: This leads to narrowing or blockage of blood vessels.

Arrhythmias: It involves irregular heartbeats, heart valve disease

Cardiomyopathy: weakening of the heart muscle

Heart failure: when the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs

Factors that increase the risk of heart disease

Factors that increase the risk of heart disease include:

Age: 

The risk of heart disease increases as you age, the blood vessels become less flexible and more rigid. This stiffening of arteries can lead to increased blood pressure (hypertension), a major risk factor for heart disease. Over the years, cholesterol and other substances can accumulate on the walls of arteries, forming plaques. This buildup narrows the arteries and restricts blood flow, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. The heart muscle may weaken over time, and the ability to pump blood efficiently can decline, leading to conditions such as heart failure.

 Age often brings a higher likelihood of other health conditions like diabetes, obesity, and kidney disease, which contribute to heart disease risk. Unhealthy habits, such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and smoking, can compound over time and exacerbate heart risk as a person ages.

Sex: 

Men are generally at a higher risk than women, but the risk for women increases after menopause. Gender plays a significant role in heart disease risk due to a combination of biological, hormonal, and behavioural factors.

In pre-menopausal women, higher estrogen level provides a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, helping maintain healthy blood vessels. This is why women tend to have a lower risk of heart disease compared to men of the same age before menopause. After menopause, estrogen levels drop, which reduces its protective effect and increases the risk of heart disease in women. This change often leads to a catch-up effect, where older women may have a risk similar to or higher than men of the same age.

Men and women may experience different heart disease symptoms. Men are more likely to have classic symptoms like chest pain, while women might have subtler signs such as shortness of breath, nausea, or fatigue. This can sometimes lead to underdiagnosis or delayed treatment in women.

Women's heart attacks are more likely to present with atypical symptoms, making them harder to recognize and diagnose promptly.

Family history: 

A family history of early heart disease increases your risk due to the combined effects of shared genetics and lifestyle. Certain genes that affect cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular risk factors can be passed from parents to children. However, if a family has a history of unhealthy habits like poor diet or inactivity, those practices can be passed from one generation to another. 

But it doesn’t mean someone will definitely develop heart disease. People with a family history can benefit from adopting heart-healthy practices such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking to mitigate their increased risk.

Lifestyle: 

Lifestyle choices play a significant role in the development of heart disease. Unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking too much alcohol, eating an unhealthy diet, and not getting enough physical activity can increase your risk. Diets high in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis) and increase blood pressure, contributing to heart disease. 

Diets lacking in essential nutrients like fibre, fruits, and vegetables can fail to support heart health and contribute to higher cholesterol levels and inflammation. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to weight gain and obesity, which are major risk factors for heart disease.

Other medical conditions: 

Several medical conditions can increase the risk of developing heart disease. These conditions affect the heart's function or contribute to factors that damage the cardiovascular system over time. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity can increase your risk. 

High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and can damage the arteries over time, leading to plaque buildup. This can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.

Elevated blood sugar levels in people with diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves that control the heart and blood vessels. Over time, this can lead to coronary artery disease, heart failure, and other complications.

High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (often called "bad" cholesterol) can lead to the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in the arteries, which can restrict blood flow and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, as it is often associated with other conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Excess body fat can also lead to inflammation and strain on the heart.

 Race/Ethnicity: 

Certain groups have higher risks than others, race and ethnicity can play a significant role in an individual's risk of developing heart disease, due to a combination of genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors. Certain populations are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to others.

African Americans have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease, particularly hypertension (high blood pressure), which is a major risk factor for heart disease.

South Asians (e.g., Indians, Pakistanis): This subgroup has a particularly high risk of heart disease, with a higher likelihood of developing premature coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes. South Asians tend to have higher levels of abdominal fat (visceral fat), which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders.

East Asians (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Koreans): East Asians generally have a lower incidence of heart disease compared to South Asians and African Americans, but lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and smoking rates can influence this.

Stress: 

Excessive stress can contribute to the development of heart disease. While stress alone may not directly cause heart disease, it can play a significant role in increasing the risk of heart disease through both physical and behavioural mechanisms.

When you're stressed, your body activates its "fight or flight" response, which involves the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones temporarily increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, which is helpful in immediate, short-term situations (e.g., facing danger). However, when the stress is chronic, the elevated levels persist, putting ongoing strain on the heart and blood vessels.

Stress often leads to sleep problems, including insomnia or poor-quality sleep. Lack of sleep can increase the risk of high blood pressure, inflammation, and other heart disease risk factors. Sleep deprivation also raises cortisol levels, creating a cycle of stress and heart disease risk.

Preventing heart disease often involves lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, not smoking, and managing stress. Early detection through regular checkups is crucial, especially for those with a family history of heart disease or other risk factors.