Some risk factors for athero you can control.
Key Risk Factors
Atherosclerosis (or "athero"), the buildup of plaque in the arteries, is a
progressive disease, meaning that it tends to get worse as we age. However,
there are a number of risk factors for athero, like high cholesterol, that can speed up
the progression of the disease.
On their own, each of these risk factors can have serious consequences to your health.
When combined, the negative effect on your health and your arteries increases dramatically.
The good news is that some of the risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, high
blood pressure, and high cholesterol, can be managed. Review the lists below to
see if you have health factors that put you at an increased risk for heart disease
and stroke, two frequent consequences of atherosclerosis. If you have one or more
of these factors, talk with your doctor about what you can do to reduce your risk of athero.
If you have one or more of the risk factors above, the first
step you should take is to talk with your doctor. He or she can help you chart
your risks, and together you can plan what steps you may need to take to start
taking care of your arteries.
In the meantime, find out what you can do
to reduce the risk for athero, coronary heart disease, and stroke.
