THE HEART OF A MAN

Unfortunately, being male is a heart disease risk factor in and of  itself. While heart disease affects an equal amount of women, men tend  to have a greater risk of heart attack and typically have attacks at a  younger age. Even after menopause, when a woman’s death rate from heart  disease increases, the number of fatal heart attacks in women is still  less than in men.    

 Heart disease can affect people of all ages, but it is most common in older ages. A man’s risk for developing heart disease begins nearly 10 years before a woman’s. Nearly one in every 100 men develops signs of heart disease by the age of 45. By age 55, the risk doubles and continues to increase until age 85, when about 7.4 out of every 100 men have heart disease. 

 People who have parents or close blood relatives who have been diagnosed  with heart disease, especially at a young age, are more likely to  develop the disease themselves. Please consult your primary care  physician if you have a family history of heart disease, so he or she  can better track your heart health and make informed recommendations for  heart disease prevention. 

  Smokers are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease  than non-smokers. If you are one of the 24.8 million American men who  smoke or use tobacco, the best thing you can do for your heart, and your  overall health, is to find the resources and support to quit tobacco.  Quitting tobacco will reduce your chances of developing heart disease  and reduce the chances of someone you love developing heart disease from  secondhand smoke.

 Getting regular physical activity is an important part of strengthening  your heart and reducing your risk for heart disease in both the  immediate and long-term future. Aim to get at least 30 minutes of  heart-pumping exercise, five days a week. If your schedule does not  allow you to exercise for thirty consecutive minutes, try taking a brisk  10 minute walk, three times a day, five days a week. 

 People who have excess body fat – especially around the waistline – are  more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they don’t have  any other heart disease risk factors. Approximately 200 million men  worldwide are considered overweight or obese, putting them at higher  risk for heart disease. In addition to exercising, overweight men should  eat a diet low in salt; low in total fat, saturated fat and  cholesterol; and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. 

 High LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels may be  linked to an increased risk for heart disease. For many men, the risk  of high cholesterol starts in their 20s and increases with age. While a  family history can affect your cholesterol, other factors may include  poor diet, low activity level and high body weight. Men over the age of  20 should get their cholesterol levels tested at least once a year. 

 The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) estimates there  are 13 million men over the age of 20 who have diabetes. Adults living  with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease  or stroke than adults without diabetes. If you have diabetes or are at  risk for developing diabetes, treating your diabetes or controlling your risk factors is the best way to prevent cardiovascular disease. 

 Having high blood pressure puts stress on a person’s heart, causing an  increased risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive  heart failure. A higher percentage of men than women have high blood  pressure before the age of 45. Men who have high blood pressure, in  addition to being obese, a smoker or diabetic, have a significantly  higher risk of developing coronary heart disease.