Your circulatory system is responsible for delivering nutrients and most importantly, oxygen, to all cells of your body and taking away the produced waste from them. It basically consists of your heart which is a muscular organ that continuously pumps blood all across the body. It also has an intricate network of vessels namely the arteries, veins and capillaries. The circulatory system is also referred to as the cardiovascular system which works round the clock to supply oxygenated blood to all body cells for normal functioning.
Like a proper team, all participants of the team must work efficiently to get the desired results all the time. Therefore, all components of the cardiovascular system must be properly working for the body to get complete oxygen and nutrients effectively and efficiently. Sometimes, the participants do not work like they should and therefore, problems occur.
Disorders of the cardiovascular system can occur suddenly as well as develop gradually over time. They may affect the heart which may involve changes in heart structure or problems with the pumping of blood. They may also affect the arteries, such as weakened or blocked arteries. A cardiologist in Islamabad discussed in detail some risk factors that contribute vastly to the diseases of the circulatory system. It is of importance that people be aware of these so as to avoid any complications in their health otherwise. Let us have a look at those:
Risk Factors Of Cardiovascular Disorders And Diseases
Several health conditions, lifestyle, habits and other contributing factors are worth mentioning which more or less have a great impact on your cardiovascular health as well.
Cigarette smoking
Tobacco and tobacco-based products are known to increase risk of heart diseases in people. Chemicals in cigarettes have a deleterious effect on the overall health especially the circulatory and respiratory systems. These chemicals thicken the blood and increase chances of clot formations in the veins and arteries. These clots can lodge inside small lumen of veins or arteries leading to a heart attack at times. Another fatal effect these clots may have is the onset of a stroke. A stroke happens when a blood clot lodges inside the brain and stops oxygenated blood supply to part of the brain.
Nicotine is also known to increase blood pressure. This paired with atherosclerosis increases risk of heart attacks massively. Not only smoking itself, but exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke also reduces the amount of oxygen that red blood cells can carry easily inside the blood. Therefore, if you smoke, it is better that you quit immediately, especially if you are already at risk of heart diseases.
Alcohol drinking
People who are in the habit of drinking a lot of alcohol frequently have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disorders, such as hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia. Triglycerides when present in huge amounts in the blood can thicken the blood and cause atherosclerosis.
Family history and genetics
Where heart disease, hypertension and other related conditions are concerned, genetics plays a very important part in their occurrence throughout a family tree. It is also important to mention here that they basically share the environment and other factors as well. If you have a history of heart disorders in the near family, combined with unhealthy life choices, you are more likely to develop these disorders within your body as well.
Concomitant diseases
If you are suffering from diabetes, you may have damaged blood vessels because of it. Weakening of the arteries is a cardiovascular issue. High cholesterol will most likely lead to atherosclerosis which may lead to other circulatory issues. High blood pressure that persists for a long time and is not treated timely leads to other health issues as well.
Unhealthy dietary intake
Too much salt intake in the diet can lead to hypertension. This is because salt, when increased in the body, increases the water retention leading to increased blood volume. This has a direct impact on the heart. Overtime, hypertension leads to weakening of the blood vessels as well.
Eating a diet rich in trans fat, cholesterol and saturated fats is deleterious for the overall health especially cardiovascular health. It is important that you remove these from your routine diets and take in healthy fats such as salmon etc. Otherwise, these will lead to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular complications in the long run.
Sedentary lifestyle
Know that if you do not include some form of physical activity or exercise in your daily routine and are fond of staying a couch potato, you are at higher risk of contracting a heart disorder as compared to someone who is more active. Your heart is a muscle, and like all other muscles in the body, it requires sufficient activity to keep healthy. Fatty material will build up in your arteries if you stay inactive for prolonged durations of time. This way the arteries can get clogged and damaged, leading to heart attack.
Obesity
A normal body weight is required for optimal health. Excess weight will make fat deposits in the arteries and blood vessels leading to circulatory issues. Research also states that people with more fat around the waist than at the hips are more likely to suffer from diabetes and heart issues. Therefore, it is necessary to control your weight at an optimal level for health benefits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are just some of the important risk factors involved in cardiovascular disorders. It is crucial that you exercise moderately along with a good intake of fruits, vegetables and a healthy diet for optimal heart health. It is better to prevent the onset of such issues rather than managing them later.
