Introduction to Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular health pertains to the heart and blood vessels, responsible for circulating blood throughout your body to supply oxygen and nutrients. It’s essential to understand the vital responsibilities of your cardiovascular system and the factors that affect its productiveness.
In this blog, we’ll look at the following topics:
- The vital role of the cardiovascular system
- The importance of cardiovascular health
- Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases
- Strategies to enhance cardiovascular health
- The Theriome 12’s approach to assessing cardiovascular health
The Vital Role of the Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system is in charge of regulating blood in the body through pulmonary and systemic circulation. Pulmonary circulation ensures your blood is clean and supplied with oxygen before it’s sent to the rest of your body to aid cell function. Likewise, systemic circulation removes carbon dioxide and waste from oxygen and nutrients before delivering it to the cells.
The Theriome 12: A Holistic Metabolic Blood Test
At Theriome, we offer a unique method for evaluating health that distinguishes us from other at-home microbiome blood tests. We concentrate on 12 crucial aspects of metabolism to give you a thorough understanding of your overall health. These encompass:
- Liver Health
- Gut Health
- Cardiovascular Health
- Inflammatory Score
- Environmental Toxin Exposure Index
- Neurocognitive Index
- Nutritional Index
- Mutation Load
- Aging Index
- Integumentary Health
- Reproductive Health
- Mitochondrial Health
For each pillar, you’ll receive your results as a personalized score ranging from 1 to 10, enabling you to take charge of your health journey.
Emphasis on Cardiovascular Health as a Crucial Metabolic Pillar
Our cardiovascular health pillar focuses on the well-being of your heart and blood vessels while gauging risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. With this information, you can determine if any internal or external factors contribute to your current health and whether you need to alter your lifestyle.
The Importance of Cardiovascular Health
Maintaining good heart health is vital to overall well-being. Your heart serves as the source for supplying oxygen, eliminating harmful toxins and waste, and circulating blood throughout your body. When your cardiovascular health is poor, you’re at a much higher risk for bodily complications, such as heart disease, stroke, and artery blockage.
Key Functions of the Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system has four major roles that contribute to the body’s overall health, including:
- Transporting nutrients, blood, and waste substances throughout the body.
- Protecting the body against infections and blood loss.
- Regulating and maintaining the body’s temperature.
- Maintaining a balance of fluid within the body.
A healthy cardiovascular system can keep the body functioning correctly by collaborating with other vital organs and processes.
The Link Between Cardiovascular Health and Overall Well-Being
Much research has shown a strong connection between poor mental and physical health and an unhealthy heart.
Mental Health
- Young adults who feel depressed are more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases.
- Psychological well-being was also associated with a 29% reduced risk of cardiovascular-related mortality.
- Research shows that depression prevalence is 50% among people with heart disease.
Physical Health
- Daily activities that elevate your heart can regulate your blood pressure and decrease cholesterol which contribute to the risk of heart disease.
- A 2013 study noted that higher levels of physical activity were associated with a 21 percent reduction in coronary heart disease (CHD).
- An estimated 35% of coronary heart disease mortality is due to physical inactivity.
Common Cardiovascular Diseases and Their Impact
There are numerous complications related to the heart, but the four main types of cardiovascular diseases include:
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease happens when the heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood from the arteries. This disease is often accompanied by chest pain (angina), nausea, shortness of breath, and arm or shoulder pain. Some individuals with heart disease may experience little to no symptoms. Because of this, it’s crucial to have your cardiovascular health tested regularly to avoid the progression of unforeseen heart problems.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when the brain experiences bleeding or a blockage of blood flow. This can lead to symptoms such as trouble with balance, speech, and comprehension. Likewise, people often experience numbness in the face, arms, or legs. While treatments can decrease the damaging effects, a stroke can cause serious medical complications such as permanent brain damage and paralysis.
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs in the legs and lower extremities. It’s typically caused by a buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, leading to narrowed blood vessels that impact how blood flows to the limbs.
Aortic Diseases
When the aorta’s walls are compromised, this can lead to aortic diseases. There are several types of aortic diseases, including aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection. These diseases are typically accompanied by sharp, sudden pain in the upper back that spreads downwards, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, trouble swallowing, and other complications.
Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases
The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases is predicated on existing health conditions, lifestyle, age, and family history. One or several factors could be the primary contributing factor to a diagnosis.
Modifiable Risk Factors
- High Blood Pressure. Around 54% of strokes and 47% of coronary heart diseases are because of high blood pressure.
- High Cholesterol Levels. A third of coronary heart disease is caused by high cholesterol.
- Smoking and Tobacco Use. One out of every five smoking-related deaths is caused by heart disease.
- Physical Inactivity. An estimated 35% of coronary heart disease mortality is due to physical inactivity.
- Poor Diet and Obesity. According to one study, individuals classified as obese were more than twice as likely to develop heart disease compared to those who maintained a normal weight.
Non-Modifiable Risk Factor
- Age. Heart disease risk increases with age, especially after 65, with the average age for a heart attack being 64.5 for men and 70.3 for women.
- Family History. Siblings of patients with heart disease have a roughly 40% higher risk, and those whose parents have premature heart disease have a 60% to 75% higher risk of developing it themselves.
- Gender. Heart disease primarily affects men. Also, between 70% and 89% of sudden heart attacks are experienced by men.
- Genetic Factors. One study found that roughly 25% to 50% of everyone’s chances of developing coronary heart disease are rooted in their genes.
Strategies to Enhance Cardiovascular Health
Although some aspects of health, such as genetics, are beyond your control, you can still take proactive steps to promote optimal functioning and overall well-being.
Dietary Recommendations for a Healthy Heart
Increase Your Fiber Intake
Fiber has many benefits, including enhancing bowel health, lowering cholesterol, and maintaining blood sugar levels. A diet rich in fibers such as whole grains and berries helps to decrease your risk of heart-related problems like heart disease and organ damage.
Avoid Saturated Fat
The body needs healthy fats to produce energy, but when you over-consume saturated fats, these can cause cholesterol to build up in your arteries (blood vessels). A rise in LDL, bad cholesterol, can lead to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
Eat Less Sodium
The recommended daily intake of salt is 500mg. This provides the body with the needed amount to support vital functions. Too much salt intake can create several complications, including high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke.
The Role of Regular Exercise in Cardiovascular Health
Each time you exercise, you’re strengthening your heart muscles, which helps pump blood to the lungs and decrease pressure on the heart. Regular moderate to high-intensity exercise reduces the risk of heart attacks and other life-threatening cardiac events.
Importance of Regular Medical Check-ups and Monitoring
Even if you’re maintaining a balanced diet and exercising regularly, these practices don’t give you insight into your cardiac health. Scheduling regular appointments with your doctor allows you to make sure your heart is healthy and nothing is going on that requires intervention, such as high blood sugar.
Even if you’re leading a healthy lifestyle, complications may still arise that require treatment. For example, your doctor may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to gain more information on unusual symptoms you’re experiencing. An MRI can take a picture of your heart to view details of major blood vessels and help diagnose heart diseases and other possible issues.
The Theriome 12’s Approach to Assessing Cardiovascular Health
Theriome 12 uses scientific testing to discover the interworkings of your cardiovascular health, providing information on how well your heart functions. You’ll be notified of any red flags or indicators contributing to heart-related problems so you can proactively reduce your risk.
What the Metabolic Blood Test Measures for Cardiovascular Health
The test takes into account certain elements found in the blood, such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and fibrinogen. The levels of these significantly impact the state of your heart health. Each factor is built into a personal report for you to analyze and discuss with your doctor.
Personalized Recommendations Based on Test Results
By having in-depth knowledge of your cardiovascular system, you can identify possible factors contributing to any existing concerns. This will help you take the next step towards better overall health.
