Heart Disease - Modifiable & Non-Modifiable Risk Factors

The leading cause of death in the United States and in most developed countries is cardiovascular disease (CVD). This includes atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, stroke, angina pectoris, and congestive heart failure. CVD is the most studied group of disease in the world, and despite huge medical advances, it still manages to cause one out of every eight U.S. deaths each year (2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association | Circulation (ahajournals.org).

What is causing heart disease? The conventional wisdom and traditional view investigated the correlation between coronary atherosclerosis, which is cholesterol simply accumulating in the inner lining of the coronary arteries, ultimately forming plaque that obstructs blood flow. Current research now shows that arterial inflammation is a major player in the development and progression of atherosclerosis (Inflammation and cardiovascular disease: From mechanisms to therapeutics - PMC (nih.gov)).

The vast information available on CVD is entirely too much for me to even scratch the surface of and should also ultimately be explained to patients by their physician, but I am in the scope of my practice by writing on the fact that there are some risk factors that you do have control over, and there are some that you do not (Cardiac Risk Stratification - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)).

The new view surrounding inflammation as a culprit of arterial inflammation leading to atherosclerosis highlights the urgency of lifestyle interventions to improve heart health and reduce risk factors that are within an individual's control.

Modifiable Risk Factors

• Hypertension

• Hyperlipidemia

• Type 2 Diabetes

• Chronic Kidney Disease

• Obesity

• Smoking

• Poor Dietary Habits

• Sedentary Lifestyle

• Psychosocial stressors (depression, anger, anxiety, denial, chronic stress & personality traits)

• Inflammation

Non-Modifiable Risk Factors

• Age

• Gender

• Family History

Take a look at this list. Do you have modifiable risk factors that you know you could make an effort to improve? Have you ever thought about these things and how they affect your longevity?

I think it is important to be very honest and open with yourself when thinking about these types of risk factors. It is also extremely important to realize the magnitude that small changes to these risk factors can make in the years to come. With CVD being a number one killer, prevention is so often overlooked, and I am definitely here to help my clients with prevention before medical intervention.

If you are trying to make positive changes in your life to prevent or help the symptoms of CVD but do not know where to start, health coaching may be the very thing you need. Unfortunately, the medical community is still quick to rely on medical interventions or medications as a first-line strategy to stabilize modifiable risk factors without lifestyle intervention. A health coach may be the stepping stone you need in order to go from disease management to disease prevention. Prevention of any and of recurrent cardiac events can be achieved through behavior modification and by learning to live a heart healthy lifestyle including adequate sleep, more movement everyday, quitting smoking, decreasing excess body weight and fat stores, and learning proper nutrition to fuel your body appropriately for longevity. For those of you who have non-modifiable risk factors, the same heart healthy lifestyle habits can be formed in addition to taking physician prescribed medications.

I have one final piece of information that may help you get started down the road that leads away from CVD.

It is easy for people to tell you to live a heart healthy lifestyle. They may not be considering all of the factors that are involved in making a lifestyle change. There is so much more to adopting healthy habits than just willpower alone. If you feel overwhelmed or maybe can't quite put your finger on what is holding you back, it may be beneficial to understand more about wellness and how the state of body, mind and spirit are interconnected. Below is an image of the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Eight Dimensions of Wellness. If you have never considered these dimensions of wellness, it can be very enlightening to consider them for the first time and really contemplate where you are on each of the levels. Understanding where you are as a whole and unique individual can often times be the very motivation you need to start adopting healthy habits and protecting your cardiovascular health.

Each dimension of wellness is defined as follows:

• Emotional: coping effectively with life and expressing emotions appropriately.

• Environmental: having a healthy and safe living and working environment.

• Financial: managing personal finances and being satisfied with current and future financial situations.

• Intellectual: engaging in creative and stimulating mental activities and expanding knowledge and skills.

• Occupational: having a fulfilling and rewarding career or occupation that aligns with personal values and goals.

• Physical: maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle through nutrition, exercise, and appropriate health care.

• Social: developing a sense of connection and belonging and having a positive support network.

• Spiritual: having a sense of purpose and meaning in life and respecting the beliefs and values of others.

If you have any further questions for me, please get in touch!

Until then, please prioritize your health!