The Recipe to a Healthy Heart:Your Guide to Preventing Heart Disease
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Heart disease is the cause of death for 700,000 Americans1 and nearly 17.9 million people worldwide every year.2 While some of these individuals likely had indicators for higher risk, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, studies show that up to 70% of people who die from a heart attack do not have any of these traditional markers.3 Even young, seemingly healthy individuals can experience a sudden cardiac event. Almost a quarter of heart-disease related deaths happen in men between the ages of 35 and 65.4
While the prevalence of heart disease has gradually decreased over the past decade due to improved screening and education,5 why is it that so many heart attacks still happen without warning? One key factor is an over-reliance on using secondary risk factors and symptoms as signs of heart disease, which don’t fully measure what’s happening inside the heart.
To proactively understand your risk, it is essential to know the root cause of heart disease and what may put you at a higher likelihood of a heart attack.
Atherosclerosis is the build-up of plaque, usually made up of fat, cholesterol and other substances, in the heart’s arteries. Coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease, is when the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen, blood and nutrients due to atherosclerosis.
Different types of plaque put individuals at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The most dangerous kind of plaque is low density noncalcified plaque, which is soft and has a fatty or liquid center. This plaque is unstable and has a high chance of rupturing. When plaque ruptures, it causes a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. This sudden loss of blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart then causes a heart attack.6
A person’s risk for developing atherosclerosis can vary depending on their lifestyle, genetics, gender, age and past medical history.
Environmental factors can also influence a person’s likelihood of developing atherosclerosis. For example, heart disease is more common in lower socio-economic groups, compared with higher income individuals, due to increased stress, limited access to health care and fewer resources that may make a healthy lifestyle easier.7 Chronic stress can also increase risk, as it can contribute to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and general inflammation.8
While the above guidelines can be a great starting point for evaluating heart disease risk, if you are looking for a more concrete analysis of your heart health, it is essential to speak to a clinician about your unique history and lifestyle.
If your doctor believes you have one or more risk factors for heart disease, a Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with Cleerly analysis can show you any atherosclerosis present in your arteries. A CCTA is an imaging test that produces 3D renderings of your heart. Cleerly uses AI-enabled technology to identify the volume and types of plaque shown in your CCTA. Cleerly then presents findings in an easy-to-read report and evaluates your level of heart disease from normal, mild, moderate to severe plaque. Depending on your level of atherosclerosis, your physician can then help you determine the best next course of action, such as medical treatment, ongoing monitoring and lifestyle changes.
For many individuals, healthy lifestyle choices can go a long way to help reduce heart disease risk. Some studies show that 80% of heart attacks are preventable by avoiding tobacco use, getting regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy diet, and monitoring your cholesterol and blood pressure.9
The American Heart Association recommends the following practices for a healthy lifestyle:
If you have atherosclerosis, your doctor may recommend medical therapies including:10
Taking a proactive approach to your heart health is the best prevention for disease. While taking the first step to ask your doctor about heart health can be intimidating, it may be critical to prevent a future heart attack.
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References:
1. Leading Causes of Death. National Center for Health Statistics. Last reviewed Jan.13, 2022.
2. Cardiovascular diseases. World Health Organization.
3. Akosah KO et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003.
4. Top 10 Causes of Death in Men. Illinois Department of Public Health.
5. Heart Disease Prevalence. Center for Disease Control.
6. Heart Attack. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
7. Stress-Associated Neurobiological Pathway Linking Socioeconomic Disparities to Cardiovascular Disease. Tawakol, A., et al. 2019.
8. Stress and Heart Health. American Heart Association. Last Reviewed: Jun 21, 2021.
9. ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. Arnett, D.K. et al. 2019.
10. Atherosclerosis. Mayo Clinic.
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