Know your risk of heart attack or stroke

Tags: diabetes, heart attack, Hypertension, stroke —

Want to know if you have a heart attack over your life? According to a team of researchers from the U.S. if you are a man, has already reached 45, not smoking, not overweight and no hypertension or diabetes, then your risk is only 1.4%.

However, with two or more risk factors at his back, the odds increase to 49.5%. So it takes a study just published by the journal ‘The New England Journal of Medicine . For the first time, ensure those responsible for the work, “we are assessing the risk of coronary heart disease in both white and black women and men throughout life.” So far, they continue, the work focused especially white male population and a forecast of 10 years.

In total, Northwestern University researchers examined more than 250,000 people over a period of 50 years. At 45, 55, 65 and 75 years, participants underwent an evaluation of their cholesterol levels, blood pressure, diabetes and snuff consumption. The authors focused on these aspects, being the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease or stroke .

They found that men who reach 45 without these risk factors had only a 1.4% suffer any of these conditions. However, it was enough to smoke and had higher cholesterol levels for the chance to ascend to 49.5% .

In the case of women, to reach 45 in top form, may suffer a heart attack or stroke by 4.1%. With two or more risk factors, the chances increase to 30.7%. “We saw that women had a higher risk of stroke than men, but less heart attacks,” the authors say in the article.

This is because, according to Jaime Masjuán Vallejo, coordinator of the Stroke Unit at the Hospital Ramon y Cajal in Madrid, that “ they live longer and strokes tend to occur more often after 65. “ However, he continues, “the heart affects younger people and men, because they have poorer control of risk factors, such as the snuff.”

As explained by Dr. Masjuán Vallejo, the results of this study “underscore the importance of prevention” and reveal that the efficacy of drugs to control diabetes or hypertension are much less effective in preventing cardiovascular events that reach 45 without such factors. “

Since the work includes a large sample of participants, says the Spanish specialist, “ are very significant findings . “ Above all, taking into account the need now exists to work more on prevention. “Before, I see people under 50 years with a stroke was exceptional. Now, every week we have a case and this is because we have the highest burden of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and snuff. We do not realize that a little descotrolen levels are, for example cholesterol, before 50, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases significantly. “

Researchers recall, therefore, that lifestyle is key, particularly diet, exercise and smoking cessation, which is what most helps reduce the risk factors leading to coronary heart disease or stroke. “From the standpoint of prevention, we must do more emphasis on the idea of doing everything possible not to develop diabetes , hypertension, smoking or earn extra kilos, “said one of the authors, Jarett Berry. This will be the most effective way to keep your heart in shape throughout life