Cardiovascular Disease

The four most common types of cardiovascular disease are coronary heart disease (which includes heart attack and angina pectoris or chest pain), stroke, high blood pressure and heart failure. Smoking, unhealthy diet, lack of physical acitvity, and over use of alcohol increase the risk for CVD. In 2000, CVD claimed over 945,000 lives, that’s one in every five deaths. In 2006, CVD claimed 831,272 lives which was 34.3% of all deaths or more than one of every four deaths! That’s way more than deaths due to cancer (559,888), accidents (121,599), and AIDS(12,113) combined. CVD occurs almost equally in men and women however, after menopause women have an increased risk.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of people with diabetes, even when glucose levels are kept under control. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease due to a variety of risk factors including high blood pressure, lipid disorders, high LDL, high triglycerides, low HDL, smoking, obesity, or high blood sugar levels. Recent studies have also shown that insulin resistance may be another risk factor.
Engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day, eating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and limiting your salt intake to less than one teaspoon a day of the week will help to prevent CVD.