When a person has an uncontrollable factor which increases their chances of developing CHD, it is advisable to minimise all controllable factors so that the chance is reduced.
Firstly, old age greatly increases that chance of CHD with 80% of CHD suffers being 65 and over. Total cholesterol levels get higher over years which results in the build up in fats and narrowing of the arteries. However this can be minimised through cholesterol lowering drugs and appropriate diet. Lipid lowering drugs help lower the level of “bad” cholesterol in your body and raise levels of “good” cholesterol. Cholesterol can be lowered also, by avoiding foods high in saturated fats such as animal products; this is very important to recognise, especially with increasing age.
Secondly gender typically increases the chances of developing CHD as up until the menopause females usually have lower cholesterol levels than men. It could also be partly that men are more likely to suffer from stress.
Research suggests that stress not only effects habits but is directly related to heart disease; when becoming stressed blood pressure and blood sugar levels increase which leads to legions in the artery walls. This leads to long term damage such as blood cholesterol levels rising which build up in arteries therefore the artery passage gets smaller and smaller. When faced with a stressor the arteries constrict therefore the blood cannot reach the heart and organs which can result in a heart attack. Hypertension is a result of the activation of the sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System. The more someone is stressed the more likely they are to suffer from a cardiovascular disorder as high blood pressure not only weakens the heart but also makes aneurysms more likely; a burst aneurysm will lead to massive blood loss which could be fatal. It is advised that people take appropriate measures to minimise stress.
High blood pressure could also be due to excessive alcohol consumption. Drinking too much can lead to high triglycerides, damage to the liver and heart muscle and produce irregular heartbeats. However alcohol can also be linked to other self destructive habits such as smoking and inactivity which could contribute. Studies have found that moderate drinkers have a lower chance of developing CHD than those non-drinkers. It is not advised though, to increase alcohol consumption as this can lead to obesity which is another factor which increases the risk but can be controlled to some extent.
Obesity and excess body fat increase the strain on the heart. It can also increase other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and the likelihood of developing diabetes. It is advised that people loose weight through a change in diet or to become active which also helps minimise the chances of developing CHD. This in turn, should have an effect on cholesterol and blood pressure levels. It may also have a positive effect on levels of stress and general attitude to health.
Tobacco has been proven to increase chances of developing heart disease as studies show that smokers are twice as likely as non smokers to suffer from a heart attack. However these statistics could be criticised as smokers generally are more stressed than non- smokers which could also lead to excessive alcohol consumption which could then have a knock on effect with the other factors. Smoke inhaled also damages the heart as it prevents oxygen reaching the heart. Those that smoke cigars and pipes are especially at risk as the blood vessels become damaged more rapidly; even non smokers that are exposed to smoke are also at risk. Smoking not only affects the individual but also creates a poor environment which can lead to ill health.
Children with parents who smoke are more likely to be affected by heart disease through passive smoking. Hereditary can also play a part in the likelihood of developing CHD. Just as people cannot control their age, sex and race, people cannot control their family history which may have a chain of sufferers of heart disease. Children are more likely to develop heart disease if their parents do. Controllable factors must therefore be minimised. African Americans are at a much higher risk than white Americans of developing CHD, this may be due to racism tension which could lead to stress but it may be the role of genetics. Your genes influence how high LDL- cholesterol (low density lipoproteins) is by affecting how fast LDL is made and removed from the blood.
Diabetes is also more likely if it is present in the family. Diabetics are at an enormous risk of developing CHD compared to the average person. Even when glucose levels are controlled, they are much higher than people without diabetes. This damages the arteries and also causes deposits of calcium which blocks arteries and blood vessels. Diabetics are not only at risk because of the condition but also because of the associated factors of diabetes such as obesity and high cholesterol levels which is partly due to diet.
Most factors are not independent from one another and are caused and affected by each other. One factor has a knock on effect to another so it is therefore hard to control all of them. Cause and effect is very difficult to distinguish between the factors as for example diabetes can cause weight gain due to diet but also obesity increases the chances of developing diabetes. This is a very biological approach to explaining the factors but social issues can also affect the chances of developing CHD. For example people who are stressed are more likely to indulge in fatty foods which increase cholesterol levels or smoke or both. Social factors are therefore also important to consider. Social class and economics may play a part in the chances of developing CHD for a number of reasons such as better healthcare and awareness of health. Higher social classes are more likely to be educated on the costs of smoking and poor diet therefore minimising some of the controllable factors that I have highlighted.
In conclusion I believe that it is almost impossible to be totally not at risk from coronary heart disease and that the level of risk not only depends on genetics and other uncontrollable factors, but also on social, economic and personal characteristics. The research suggests that when an uncontrollable factor is present then the most effective method of reducing the risk is to control the other factors; this does not cancel out one factor, but it helps minimise the situation. I believe it could be very easy to get trapped in a cycle of factors and the cause and effect of each factor produces a chain of negative behaviours and habits. Therefore I believe that prevention of the controllable factors is the most efficient way in lowering the statistics of Coronary Heart Disease, however I also believe that people shouldn’t have to live in fear of CHD and should try to minimise factors in moderation. Otherwise stress might start the chain reaction of the effecting factors.
