Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) claim 17.3 million lives per year, which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) represents 30% of all global deaths per year. Without comprehensive heart wellness education and disease prevention, it is estimated that 23.6 million people will die from CVDs by 2030.
CVDs are more likely to affect your wellbeing if you have an inadequate diet, you smoke, you’re obese and/or if you don’t get enough physical activity. This may lead to signs of your risk of the disease, such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation and elevated blood sugar levels, which cause problems because these risk factors affect the blood flow to your heart, brain and body, otherwise known as atherosclerosis. This phenomenon describes how your arteries may narrow and thicken for years without you even noticing, giving cardiovascular disease its nickname: the ‘silent killer’.
So if heart disease is a silent killer, how on earth are you supposed to stop it? Firstly, take a look at your diet. Every food choice you make will impact your health down the line, and diet plays a significant role in the prevention or production of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, say goodbye to artificial processed fats, cool things off with alcohol and make good friends with fresh vegetables and fruit. Your salt intake has to decrease too, as not only is it in processed foods, but salt is used to preserve meat and fish and can sneak into your diet without you knowing it. So go for foods with no added salt, all-natural food items such as fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meats, and prepare home-cooked meals with little or no salt.
Moreover, check your oestrogen levels! Over 80% of CDC-related deaths occur in people over the age of 60, but men have a greater risk of developing a heart attack earlier in life. This is because oestrogen raised your ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels, and women have this hormone in large supplies until menopause. After this, their risk for heart disease increases but if you’re a woman with diabetes, elevated cholesterol or you’re overweight, you’ll catch up with the men all the sooner.
Comments are closed.