Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer disease worldwide and Malaysia.5 Crdiovascular disease or CVD is a general term encompassing heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease and other disorders of the heart and blood vessel system. Traditionally thought of a disease primarily affecting men, CVD is also and increasingly a problem for women.
Coronary artery disease is a disease of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood. Sometimes known as CAD, coronary artery disease is one of the most common forms of heart disease and the leading cause of heart attacks. This happens when the coronary arteries or so-called blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to our heart muscle become narrow or blocked by fatty deposits called plaque. The process leading to atherosclerosis (plaque deposit) is slow and complex, often starting in childhood, and it progresses with age.
Because heart disease is so common and often silent until it strikes, it is important to recognize the factors that put you at risk. The American Heart Association has identified several risk factors that can help predict the likelihood of CVD, including cigarette smoking, advancing age, Family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity (especially excess abdominal fat), lack of physical activity, uncontrolled stress and anger, high blood cholesterol and high homocysteine levels. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the likelihood of developing heart disease.6
Nevertheless, CVD is not an inevitable result of aging. Many preventive measures can be taken to avoid heart disease. You are never too young to start protecting your heart. Younger men and women can reduce their risks of heart disease later in life.