Click the links below to learn more about the leading risk factors and condtions:

Cigarette Smoking and Tobacco Smoke

High Blood Cholesterol

High Blood Pressure

Physical Inactivity

Obesity

Diabetes

Personal Medical History

Heart Attack Warning Signs

Many of the risk factors for heart attack and stroke tend to speed the rate of atherosclerosis development. It is extremely important to work with your doctor to control as many of these risk factors as possible. If you control and/or eliminate risk factors you may be able to slow down or reverse the progression of heart disease. You may also prevent a heart attack or stroke.

GLOSSARY

All-cause Mortality – death for any reason (not necessarily heart-related)

All-cause Hospitalization – hospitalization for any reason (not necessarily heart-related)

Atherosclerosis - a complex disease process in which cholesterol and other substances build up in the inner lining of the artery walls. When this build-up (referred to as plaque) begins to narrow the artery, the blood supply to the heart is reduced.

Angina Pectoris – chest pain that is caused when atherosclerosis narrows the arteries to a certain point.

Atrial Fibrillation – the rapid, uncoordinated beating of the heart’s upper chambers. For an animated illustration click here.

Ventricular Fibrillation – the rapid, uncoordinated beating of the heart’s lower chambers

Cardiac Arrest also known as “Sudden Death” – the failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by ventricular fibrillation) with consequent absence of the heartbeat leading to lack of oxygen and eventually to death.

Ejection Fraction – the measurement of the blood pumped out of the ventricles.

Heart Attack – when a portion of the heart muscles dies from lack of oxygen caused by a completely blocked artery. A heart attack and a cardiac arrest are not the same thing. A heart attack has to do with the heart’s “plumbing,” the arteries get stopped up. A cardiac arrest has to do with the heart’s “wiring,” which means that something is wrong with the electrical impulses that cause the heart to contract.

Heart Failure – This is a common medical condition that affects over five million Americans today. Heart failure does not mean that the heart suddenly stops working. Instead, it occurs gradually over time and begins when the heart is weakened for some reason. Sometimes the cause of heart failure is unknown. When the heart muscle is weakened, it must work harder to keep blood flowing through the body. To compensate for the additional stress, the heart muscle becomes enlarged. This enlargement can cause disorganized contractions which prevent the heart from pumping properly. As a result, the body does not get all of the oxygenated blood it needs in order to function.

HDL Cholesterol – also known as “good” cholesterol – “high-density lipoprotein cholesterol” lowers the risk of heart disease and heart attack.

LDL Cholesterol – also known as “bad” cholesterol – “low-density lipoprotein cholesterol” is deposited in artery walls, increasing the buildup of plaque. High levels of LDL cholesterol raise the risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Left Ventricular Dysfunction – A condition in which the left ventricle of the heart does not work as efficiently as it should. This decreased function could lead to congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction (heart attack), among other cardiovascular diseases. Diagnostic measurements that indicate this condition include a diminished ejection fraction and a depressed level of motility of the left ventricular wall (the left side of the heart becomes enlarged and does not work as efficiently).

Triglyceride – the most common type of fat in the body. Scientists do not agree that it is a risk factor for heart disease by itself, but combined with low HDL or high LDL cholesterol it appears to speed up atherosclerosis. It also increases the risk of diabetes.