In the understanding of any disease one of the most important part is the understanding of risk factors or what are the things that makes us more vulnerable to a particular disease. In relation to heart disease there are some well-defined risk factors. It is important to understand that many new and novel risk factors are emerging. Some of the risk factors can be controlled while some are non-modifiable like age, family history , genetics etc. Presently the concept of predisposition to heart disease is changing and the current models consider multifactorial causation, the meaning of which is that many factors interact among themselves to cause disease. Nevertheless there are a few traditional risk factors which cause the majority of heart disease, which are:

1. Diabetes Mellitus
2. Hypertension – High Blood Pressure
3. Smoking
4. Elevated blood Cholesterol
5. Family history of heart disease

These risk factors are responsible for around 80% of heart diseases. Even though many new and novel risk factors are coming up, these five factors are responsible for the majority of coronary artery diseases. Effective treatment of the first four of the above can reduce the risk of heart disease. You can’t do much about positive family history.

The old saying can’t be overemphasized- “Prevention is better than cure”.

Act when time is there. Take responsibility for your health.

In my next posts we will discuss about the risk factors and the benefit of proper treatment of them.

Thank you all and keep reading

Dr. S.N. Panda