The most important by far is smoking. Although most people are aware of the risks of lung disease, especially chronic bronchitis and lung cancer, many are not so aware of the enormously higher chances of developing “coronary heart disease”. Smoking 20 cigarettes per day makes one 100% more likely to develop this serous heart disease. Knowing this it remains true that we, as individuals, can do more to help ourselves and protect our future than can the medical profession, while we remain ignorant of the essential underlying cause.

Raised blood pressure

“Hypertension” is not so important a risk factor for coronary disease, but it is a major contributing factor for strokes. This is something that is readily treatable. Lifespan is reduced by having hypertension and restored to normal by having it treated. The problem is identifying it. It causes no symptoms for many years, even though it is slowly damaging the blood vessels. This is one of the routine medical checks that is always useful to have done regularly, though not necessarily very frequently.

Diabetes

This is another condition which is known to speed up arterial disease, and it is a condition which may exist in a mild form with no symptoms, or symptoms so symptoms so mild that the patients may be unaware of them. It is also another condition which can readily be detected by a routine test, in this case a simple urine test. Regular testing of blood pressure and urine are the two simple, quick and cheap tests which should be undertaken on a regular basis. They are, in fact the only tests which should be done regularly. The other tests which should be done regularly. The other tests which are often done by “executive” medical screens are of relatively less value.

Exercise

It seems that those who are physically active have a lesser chance of developing coronary problems than those who are sedentary, so there is a good justification for taking up some form of regular exercise. One should be careful, however, not to lunch too suddenly into some activity without supervision or training. It is wise to gradually increase one’s activity. Any form of exercise will do, but in order for it to have any effect on long term coronary problems it has to be regular (at least three times per week) and sustained (for 15 to 20 minutes) and to take one to the point of breathlessness. It is also sensible to find some from of exercise that one enjoys, such as cycling or swimming perhaps, as one is more likely to keep it up over a long period of time. It must be repeated again, however, that it is important not to suddenly start exercising at a high level without advice if you are not used to it.

No related posts.