Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

Age, weight and family history are all known cardiovascular disease risk factors for a heart attack, but there are other, less obvious situations that can put anyone at risk. These examples highlight surprising cardiovascular disease risk factors beyond the traditional risk factors for heart disease.

• You live near a highway. We all know even hearing traffic can increase your risk of a heart attack, one of the key risk factors for cardiovascular disease. According to new research, for every 10-decibel increase in noise from nearby traffic, heart attack risk goes up by 12%. Other than moving, researchers suggest regular stress-reducing activities (such as yoga) if you’re living life near the fast lane.
• You just woke up. Mornings are not the best part of the day for most of us, but it’s also not the best part of the day for your heart. Before you wake up, stress hormones make their way into the bloodstream, which helps you get out of bed but also stresses your heart. These, as well as dehydration that occurs overnight (and can be made worse by night-before-drinking), can increase that stress, which research says may be the reason heart attacks often occur in the morning. Protect your heart by drinking a big glass of water before you go to bed.
• And it’s Monday morning. Research has consistently shown that Monday is the days of the week in which heart attacks are most likely to occur. The reason is the usual morning heart stress combined with anxiety and depression about starting your work week (depression and anxiety can both cause increased heart rate and variability). End your weekend with yoga followed by a funny movie – research also shows that laughter can reduce heart-unhealthy stress hormones.
• You’ve lost a loved one. According to research from the American Heart Association, changes in normal heart patterns immediately following the death of a loved one could lead to heart abnormalities and increased risk of heart attack. The study also showed that time does heal all wounds; participants’ heart rate and other indicators of heart health returned to normal after 6 months, which just underscores the importance of taking care of yourself during times of extreme stress and grief.
• You celebrated too much. During holidays, people often eat and drink too much. And alcohol combined with high-fat and sodium-heavy foods can cause an irregular heartbeat. This risk even has a name: holiday heart syndrome. Cold temps can also elevate your risk.

It is also important to remember common cardiovascular disease risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.

It is vital to stay vigilant for cardiovascular disease symptoms such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or an irregular heartbeat. Other common symptoms of cardiovascular disease include persistent fatigue, dizziness, or swelling in the legs, all of which can be discussed with your physician during a heart health screening.