Risk Factors

Question 1

Living habits that can be controlled:

Answer 1

~Smoking: leading cause of cardiac disease: 2nd hand smoking has been reported to be more potent than 1st hand smoking.
~Diet high in salt, saturated fats, cholesterol
~obesity
-oral contraceptive use
-Excessive alcohol use: Increase total cholesterol, but a daily glass of red wine ( red grape juice) can increase the HDL
-Sedentary lifestyle
-Drug use…especially cocaine

Question 2

Psychosocial Factors

Answer 2

Type A personality competitiveness, drive, overdeveloped sense of urgency.
-Stress

Question 3

Uncontrollable Factors

Answer 3

• Genetic predisposition
• Gender: higher incidence in males but even out after menopause: Estrogen replacement therapy can decrease risk in the post-menopausal female
• Age
• Ethnicity: Highest in African Americans

Question 4

Pathophysiological Conditions That can underlie cardiovascular disease:

Answer 4

• Atherosclerosis: stiffening ( hardening) of artery walls
• Valvular dysfunction
• Arrhythmias
• Altered mycardial mm mechanics (intrinsic changes to contractile filaments
• HTN: bp> 140/90, desired bp <120/80
• Diabetes
• Hyperlipidemia: abnormally increased levels of any or all lipids/lipoproteins in blood not always related to diet
• Recommendations are modified in the presence of other risk factors
• Elevated serum triglyceride (fate in blood)

Question 5

HTN:

Answer 5

bp>140/90, desired bp <120/80

Question 6

Hyperlipidemia:

Answer 6

• Abnormally increased levels of any or all lipids/lipoproteins in the blood not always related to diet
• Total cholesterol: 240= high risk.
• HDL: healthy cholesterol:
• LDL: Lousy cholesterol:
• Ratios are used as predictors

Question 7

Elevated serum triglyceride

Answer 7

Fat found in blood: 200=high risk

Question 8

HDL:

Answer 8

Healthy cholesterol: >45=desirable

Question 9

Total cholesterol:

Answer 9

240=high risk

Question 10

LDL:

Answer 10

Lousy cholesterol: <130= desirable; 160=high risk

Question 11

Ratios are also used as predictors:

Answer 11

Total cholesterol/HDL:<3 desirable