Being healthy is your choice

There are many risk factors that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some people are born with conditions that predispose them to heart disease and strokes, but most people who develop the disease do so because of a combination of factors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity and smoking, to name a few. The more risk factors you expose yourself to, the higher the chance of developing CVD.

Smoking damages the lining of blood vessels, increases fatty deposits in the arteries, increases blood clotting, adversely affects blood lipid levels, and promotes coronary artery spasm. Nicotine accelerates the heart rate and raises blood pressure.

It can. Be sure to follow any instructions from your surgeon about managing your diabetes around the time of surgery. Almost everyone with Type 2 Diabetes sees big improvement or even complete remission after surgery. Some studies have even reported improvement of Type 1 Diabetes after bariatric procedures.

Diet plays a significant role in protecting or predisposing people to heart disease. Diets high in animal fat, low in fresh vegetables and fruit, and high in alcohol have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. Adopting a diet low in fat and salt has a protective long term effect. This means eating more whole grains, fruits, vegetables and a reduction in alcohol intake.

Estrogen does have a role to play in ensuring that “good” cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) is kept high, which can help women protect themselves from heart disease. However, there are also other factors to be considered. If a women has raised levels of certain fats in her blood or suffers from diabetes then the benefits of estrogen are lost. In addition, these “protecting” effects of estrogen are lost during menopause giving men and women the same levels of risk.

The indicating signs of a heart attack are known by most of us – shortness of breath and a pain in the chest. The advantage of being aware of these signs mean that many people can identify when someone is having a heart attack and help them immediately. Problems arise however when you find out that women tend to experience these feelings as less discomforting than men. Therefore women (and men) should also be on the lookout for back pain, nausea, fatigue and palpitations that can also indicate a heart attack.

Many cardiac disorders can be inherited, including arrhythmias, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and high blood cholesterol. Coronary artery disease leading to heart attack, stroke, and heart failure can run in families, indicating inherited genetic risk factors. When a family member is diagnosed with heart disease or a heart disorder, other family members are encouraged to undergo screening for risk factors and early stage disease that may not yet produce symptoms.

After surgery, many patients return to work in four to six weeks. You will have low energy for a while after surgery and may need to work some half days. Your surgeon will give you clear instructions. Most jobs want you back in the workplace as soon as possible, even if you can’t perform all duties right away. Your safety and the safety of others are extremely important - low energy can be dangerous in some jobs.