A Novel Way to Assess Risk of Heart Disease
As the prevalence of heart disease continues to rise in the United States, doctors have been looking for new treatment methods and risk factors that can inform an earlier diagnosis. Currently, heart disease is the most common cause of death among Americans. Early diagnosis is important because it allows for a patient to make earlier interventions and lifestyle changes before the disease becomes more serious.
As it stands, lifestyle changes are the most important factor that an individual can control to lower their risk of heart disease. Eating a diet low in cholesterol, choosing not to smoke, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep can all greatly affect an individual’s health outcomes. In addition, controlling other comorbidities, or the presence of two or more conditions at the same time, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes with a patient’s appropriate treatment options has also been shown to greatly lower the risk of heart disease.
Some other non-lifestyle risk factors are male gender, age, and family history. Men tend to have a greater risk of heart attacks when compared to women and experience them at a younger age. In addition, individuals that have parents or siblings with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves.
As it stands, lifestyle changes are the most important factor that an individual can control to lower their risk of heart disease. Eating a diet low in cholesterol, choosing not to smoke, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep can all greatly affect an individual’s health outcomes. In addition, controlling other comorbidities, or the presence of two or more conditions at the same time, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes with a patient’s appropriate treatment options has also been shown to greatly lower the risk of heart disease.
Some other non-lifestyle risk factors are male gender, age, and family history. Men tend to have a greater risk of heart attacks when compared to women and experience them at a younger age. In addition, individuals that have parents or siblings with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves.
Currently, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, responsible for taking the lives of over 650,000 Americans annually.
Image Source: Myriams-Fotos
To identify additional common predictors of heart disease, researchers from Edith Cowan University in Australia analyzed 53 previous heart disease studies with data from over 30,000 patients. The team found that calcium buildup in the abdominal aorta is a good predictor for the development of heart disease later in life. The abdominal aorta is the main supplier of oxygenated blood to the abdominal and pelvic organs as well as the legs. Patients with abdominal aorta calcification were found to be two to four times as likely to develop heart disease. This is because calcium buildup in the abdominal aorta blocks blood flow and causes a decrease of oxygenated blood to the body. Abdominal aorta calcification can be assessed with a simple x-ray, so it is a relatively quick and inexpensive screening process.
Patients without any previous heart disease symptoms can become aware of any risks due to aortic calcification levels and make the necessary lifestyle changes in order to decrease their own risk of eventually developing heart disease. Even without the presence of early warning signs, patients should nonetheless be encouraged to adjust their lifestyles in order to minimize the risk of heart disease.
Patients without any previous heart disease symptoms can become aware of any risks due to aortic calcification levels and make the necessary lifestyle changes in order to decrease their own risk of eventually developing heart disease. Even without the presence of early warning signs, patients should nonetheless be encouraged to adjust their lifestyles in order to minimize the risk of heart disease.
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