Cardiac Risk Management Specialist

What are Cardiovascular Risk Factors?

A cardiovascular risk factor is any life or health-related issue that increases the chance of developing heart and blood vessel disease. Some risk factors are out of your control, such as:

• Age: The chance of developing heart disease increases for men over the age of 45 and for women aged 55 and older, especially after menopause.
• Gender: Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States, but men have a greater risk for heart attacks.
• Hereditary factors: You’re more likely to develop cardiovascular disease if it runs in the family. Additionally, people who are African-American or Asian have a higher risk.

If you have any of these risk factors, it’s vital to get regular preventive checkups and to pay extra attention to the risk factors you can change.

What Risk Factors Can You Change to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease?

You can significantly lower your risk for cardiovascular disease by taking steps to manage these controllable risk factors:

• Smoking: Cigarette smoking significantly raises the risk for coronary heart disease. The professionals at Excel Medicine can help you with a smoking cessation program.
• High blood pressure: High blood pressure makes your heart work harder and causes damage to blood vessels.
• High cholesterol: It’s essential to control blood levels of cholesterol because excess cholesterol can stick together in arteries and block the flow of blood.
• Overweight and obesity: Even if you’re healthy and don’t have any other risk factors, carrying extra weight puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke.
• Diabetes: Diabetes drastically increases the chance of developing cardiovascular disease, which is partly due to the disease and partly because people with diabetes often have other risk factors, like overweight and high blood pressure.

How Can Excel Medicine Help You Prevent Heart Disease?

For most people, the first step is to lower your risk factors by following a healthy diet, implementing a regular exercise routine, and losing weight, if needed. The staff at Excel Medicine understand that these changes aren’t easy, and they’re ready to support you every step of the way.

When you come to Excel Medicine, you gain the expertise of the doctor, our certified personal trainer, and a nutrition coach. If you need medication, you’ll get expert medication management from our licensed pharmacist. Call us today to schedule a consultation and start your journey toward optimal heart health.