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Excerpts from HEALTH ZONE: HEART DISEASE: THE RISKS AND HOW TO REDUCE THEM

The Mirror [03/09/00]

Sex, Age, Ethnicity And Genetics

THERE'S nothing you can do about these factors. Men are at greater risk of heart disease than pre-menopausal women, as are older people, people of South Asian origin, people with diabetes and those with a family history of heart disease.

Smoking

CIGARETTES are a critical risk factor in heart disease. Two chemicals in tobacco smoke - nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO) - are particularly damaging to the heart. Nicotine stimulates the nervous system and makes the heart work harder. It also makes blood "sticky" so that clots form more easily, and these can lead to thrombosis.

CO replaces oxygen in the blood so, during smoking, tissues, including heart muscle, receive less oxygen. CO also makes the blood more likely to clot.

If you give up smoking, your risk of having a heart attack will reduce rapidly. Within five to ten years of stopping, your chance of having a heart attack will be little more than that of a lifelong non-smoker.

Inactivity

PEOPLE who don't exercise regularly are more than twice as likely to have coronary heart disease as those who do. Exercise strengthens heart muscle so that it can work more easily. It can also help reduce blood pressure and blood cholesterol as well as helping you to keep your weight in check.

Diet

GRAM for gram, fat has twice as much energy (calories) as protein or carbohydrate. So if you eat a lot of fat you're likely to get fat! Too much body fat puts an extra strain on your heart and can lead to high blood pressure.

Alcohol

THE odd pint or glass of wine now and again won't hurt but try to stay within the limit of 14 units for women and 21 for men. Don't save this allowance up to drink all at once.

Stress

STRESS makes the body produce adrenaline, which stimulates the heart to beat faster. As blood is rapidly pumped round your body, pressure rises, blood becomes "stickier" and the liver releases sugars and fats into your bloodstream to give you instant energy.

Blood pressure

WHEN this becomes excessive (hypertension) the heart has to work harder and there are increased risks of coronary heart disease.