Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, killing more people than TB, HIV and malaria combined. Globally, heart disease is responsible for over 17.3 million deaths a year.
Heart complications and disease include:
heart failure
Stroke
heart attack
high blood presssure
Arrhythmia(irregular heartbeat)
Coronary heart disease
valve disease
Artery disease
IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Cardiac (heart) screening is a test or series of tests that help your healthcare practitioner catch any disease or complication you may have before you start showing symptoms (before it starts affecting your everyday health). The main aim of screening is to detect any disease while it is still in its early, more treatable stage.
When you catch the disease early, you have a much higher chance of treating it before it becomes an issue. Early detection can help prevent complications such as heart failure, stroke, heart attack and more.
Most heart disease is caused by damage from lifestyle factors, such as smoking, not exercising and eating an unhealthy diet. If you smoke, don’t exercise and eat unhealthily, you have a higher risk of getting heart disease. Some factors put you at a much higher risk of heart disease, such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Heart disease risk factors
Heart disease risk factors
Unhealthy lifestyle
Heart failure
stroke
Heart attack
High blood pressure
Diseases that increase your risk
Hypertension(high blood pressure)
Diabetes
Hyperlipidaemia (high cholesterol and fat content in your blood)
obesity
Risk factors that you cannot change
Age – Women over 50 and men over 40 have a higher risk of heart disease
Family history of
heart disease
Men over 40
women over 50
Anyone with a history of heart problems
Anyone with a disease that could lead to an increased risk of heart conditions
Just because your cardiac screening says that you have a high risk, this doesn’t mean that you will definitely develop heart disease. In fact, it means that you’re in a great position to make some healthy lifestyle changes to increase your overall health while reducing the risk of serious disease!
Heart-healthy lifestyle changes
Heart-healthy lifestyle changes
Eating a healthy, balanced diet
Exercising regularly
Quitting smoking
Achieving the ideal weight for your body type (a healthy BMI)
Reducing your blood pressure
Reducing your bad cholesterol levels
Artery disease