The main risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease:
1. Overweight
Currently, every second American has some degree of overweight. This, in turn, can cause most chronic diseases, including cardiovascular.
2. High blood pressure
One in three Americans has high blood pressure and they often unaware of it. Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) occurs in 25% of the American adult population and is one of the diseases that shortens life expectancy and leads to disability.
3. Alcohol and tobacco use
Alcohol abuse leads to high blood pressure, hypertrophy of the heart muscle, the development of myocardial infarction, and cerebral circulatory disorders – stroke.
One in five Americans smokes and this, in particular, significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Intense smoking from adolescence can shorten life by 20-25 years, including due to heart disease.
4. Low physical activity
Only 3% of the American population has a sufficient level of physical fitness.
Insufficient physical activity leads to weight gain and the development of heart disease.
5. Stress
Stress and anxiety more than double the risk of cardiovascular disease, and in the case of illness – complications and death.
6. Unhealthy diet
The main enemies of the heart are overeating, insufficient consumption of vegetables and fruits, uncontrolled consumption of high-calorie food, beverages, and salt.
7. Elevated blood sugar
More than 10 million Americans have high blood sugar levels, half of whom are unaware of it and therefore do not receive the necessary treatment.
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