When you visit your family doctor for a physical examination, you may be given a cholesterol blood test, diabetic screening exam, and a blood pressure check. While high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure are the most common risk factors in the development of cardiovascular disease, there are other, less common things that may also put you at risk. Here are three uncommon things that may increase your risk for heart attack or stroke, and what you can do about them:
Gingivitis
Gum disease, or gingivitis, may raise your risk for cardiovascular disease. Inflammation of gum tissue can lead to infection which can trigger low grade systemic inflammation. This inflammation not only affects your oral cavity, it can also lead to body-wide inflammation, including that of your coronary arteries.
If not suppressed, inflammation of your arteries can heighten your risk for heart attack, stroke, or blood clot. Optimal oral care that includes meticulous brushing and flossing and regular visits to your dentist can help keep your teeth and gums healthy while reducing your risk for gingivitis and subsequent heart disease.
Autoimmune Disorders
Like gingivitis, autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, and lupus can also lead to systemic inflammation, raising the risk for an inflammatory response of your coronary arteries.
To dampen systemic inflammation caused by autoimmune disorders, see your physician on a regular basis, take your prescribed medications, get sufficient rest, and exercise as recommended by your health care provider. Not only will these interventions help suppress body-wide inflammation, reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease, they may also help keep your autoimmune disease from progressing.
Hysterectomy
If you have uterine fibroids or heavy bleeding during or between your menstrual periods, your gynecologist may recommend that you have a hysterectomy, or removal of your uterus. If you are over a certain age or if you have finished having children, your doctor may also advise you to have your ovaries removed along with your uterus. Your ovaries produce estrogen which is thought to be protective against heart disease.
Once your ovaries are removed, estrogen production sharply declines, which may raise your risk for a cardiac event. To reduce your risk for heart disease after hysterectomy, your doctor may suggest that you take hormone replacement therapy to restore depleted estrogen levels and may also recommend that you eat soy-based foods. Soy mimics the effects of natural estrogen and may offer some protection against heart disease.
If you have any of the above conditions, especially if you have a personal or family history of heart disease, see your physician and dentist on a regular basis. The sooner your medical and dental problems are recognized and addressed, the less likely they are to raise your risk for cardiovascular disease. For more information, visit websites like http://rhsctn.com.
Share29 November 2016
Seniors are like any other specialized group of people. They need services specific to their needs. Everything from nutrition to housekeeping to travel is different for seniors, and the services they receive should reflect that. I am a mental health care provider, and I work exclusively with people over the age of 65. My goal is to help educate the general population about the special needs of seniors and to inspire people to make their homes, businesses and lives more acceptable to the older generations. Seniors deserve our care and attention, and I hope that I can show others how to provide it.