Cardiovascular disease and prevention during Youth
Obesity in youth can increase the risk of having
cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. Cardiovascular disease is a
collective term used for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including
coronary heart disease, heart failure, vascular disease, and stroke, many of
which are life threatening.
Obesity is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease in Australia the extra weight places added pressure on the heart and causes the build-up of plaque on artery walls. It is the leading cause of death in Australians.
Although not common in youth, minimising the risk of cardiovascular disease during youth can prevent the risk of having heart related health conditions during adulthood. Life-style related behaviours such as eating well and exercising during youth is not only beneficial in preventing obesity, but can carry over into adulthood and reduce the risk of CVD during adulthood.
Individuals who have particularly high levels of blood cholesterol are advised to consume polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats to reduce the build-up of plaque on artery walls and lower the risk of having cardiovascular diseases.
Obesity is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease in Australia the extra weight places added pressure on the heart and causes the build-up of plaque on artery walls. It is the leading cause of death in Australians.
Although not common in youth, minimising the risk of cardiovascular disease during youth can prevent the risk of having heart related health conditions during adulthood. Life-style related behaviours such as eating well and exercising during youth is not only beneficial in preventing obesity, but can carry over into adulthood and reduce the risk of CVD during adulthood.
Individuals who have particularly high levels of blood cholesterol are advised to consume polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats to reduce the build-up of plaque on artery walls and lower the risk of having cardiovascular diseases.
Risk and preventative factors for CVD
Obesity: being
obese places pressure on blood vessels as it requires the heart and artery to
work harder to pump oxygenated blood to not only body tissue but also fat
tissue. This increases the workload of the heart and increases the pressure of
the blood on artery walls. In addition, obesity can cause the arteries to
harden due to the build-up of plaque on vessel walls. This can limit the supply
of oxygen to the heart and brain causing a heart attack or stroke.
Although, cardiovascular disease is not common in youth, young people should maintain a healthy lifestyle including eating well (including reducing the consumption of trans and saturated fats), and exercising to minimise their risk of having cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Additionally, such behaviours are most likely to carry over into adulthood and reduce the risk of having any heart related health conditions when they are older.
Genetic predisposition: youth who have a family history of heart disease are more likely to develop a heart related health condition such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure when they are in adulthood. Those with a genetic predisposition to heart disease should eliminate as many factors that contribute to heart disease to lower their risk of having CVD such as eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, not eating saturated or trans fats etc.
Gender: males are 2 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease than females. Males should take extra precaution when making decisions about life-style related choices to minimise the risk of having CVD, including eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, not eating saturated or trans fats etc.
Ethnicity: indigenous Australians are more likely to have cardiovascular disease compared to other Australia’s due to their limited access to health care facilities and education regarding heart health. Indigenous youth should seek professional help from community health centres to understand the importance of eating well and being active in minimising the risk of CVD in adulthood.
Smoking: smoking not only impacts the efficiency of your lungs, but it also has an impact on the ability of your heart to function properly. With over 4000 chemicals in a single cigarette, smoking increases the build-up of plaque on artery walls, contributing to the risk of CVD in adulthood. Youth are advised to avoid risk taking behaviours such as smoking to prevent cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Diabetes: individuals with diabetes have a 2 times more likely chance of developing CVD, a five times more likely chance of having a stroke, and 10 times more likely chance of having a heart attack, due to the impact that diabetes has on the circulatory system, and blood sugar. Youth with diabetes are encouraged to manage their diabetes in the most effective way possible to limit the impact that it has on the heart and work with their diet and exercise to reduce the build-up of plaque on artery walls.
Although, cardiovascular disease is not common in youth, young people should maintain a healthy lifestyle including eating well (including reducing the consumption of trans and saturated fats), and exercising to minimise their risk of having cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Additionally, such behaviours are most likely to carry over into adulthood and reduce the risk of having any heart related health conditions when they are older.
Genetic predisposition: youth who have a family history of heart disease are more likely to develop a heart related health condition such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure when they are in adulthood. Those with a genetic predisposition to heart disease should eliminate as many factors that contribute to heart disease to lower their risk of having CVD such as eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, not eating saturated or trans fats etc.
Gender: males are 2 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease than females. Males should take extra precaution when making decisions about life-style related choices to minimise the risk of having CVD, including eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, not eating saturated or trans fats etc.
Ethnicity: indigenous Australians are more likely to have cardiovascular disease compared to other Australia’s due to their limited access to health care facilities and education regarding heart health. Indigenous youth should seek professional help from community health centres to understand the importance of eating well and being active in minimising the risk of CVD in adulthood.
Smoking: smoking not only impacts the efficiency of your lungs, but it also has an impact on the ability of your heart to function properly. With over 4000 chemicals in a single cigarette, smoking increases the build-up of plaque on artery walls, contributing to the risk of CVD in adulthood. Youth are advised to avoid risk taking behaviours such as smoking to prevent cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Diabetes: individuals with diabetes have a 2 times more likely chance of developing CVD, a five times more likely chance of having a stroke, and 10 times more likely chance of having a heart attack, due to the impact that diabetes has on the circulatory system, and blood sugar. Youth with diabetes are encouraged to manage their diabetes in the most effective way possible to limit the impact that it has on the heart and work with their diet and exercise to reduce the build-up of plaque on artery walls.