[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did you know heart disease was one of the UK’s biggest killers? It causes a quarter of all deaths in the country, with more than 160,000 deaths each year. That’s almost 460 a day!

In past blogs we’ve explored the links between heart health and sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs). But what actually causes issues like SCAs, heart attacks, and other circulatory diseases?

In this post we’ll delve deeper to help you understand what causes heart problems, starting with the most obvious question:

What is the main cause of heart problems?

According to Mayo Clinic, the most common of all causes of heart disease is atherosclerosis – a build-up of fatty plaques which narrow the arteries.

The British Heart Foundation goes into further detail on the subject, explaining as follows:

“When the arteries become narrowed and the blood flow is restricted, they can’t deliver enough blood to the heart and the brain, which can cause heart and circulatory diseases.”

But what is it that leads to this atherosclerosis? Or to be more specific, in terms of lifestyle factors and people’s personal choices, what causes heart disease in the first place?[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”2693″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

1. Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is an immune system response and accounts for around 10% of cases. The other 90% are type 2, which can be heavily affected by lifestyle factors. Either way, managing diabetes can be a challenge, but failing to do so – by eating lots of sugary, fatty foods and not prioritising healthy habits – can also increase your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases like heart attacks, strokes, and even vascular dementia.

2. High blood pressure

If you’ve arrived here on this page after specifically searching for “what causes a heart attack,” this is the answer you were looking for. The higher your blood pressure, the harder your heart is having to work to pump blood around your body. While your blood pressure will naturally go up and down throughout the day, a consistently higher than average resting blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a serious medical concern. To learn more, see the video below.

Want to know if your blood pressure is higher than it should be? Buying a blood pressure monitor might help.

3. High cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that occurs naturally in the bloodstream. In normal amounts it isn’t usually a problem. In fact, the body actually needs cholesterol to make vitamin D and some hormones. But in large amounts it can be the answer to the question “what causes heart pain?’

That’s because too much cholesterol can lead to blood clots which might block an artery. If it’s an artery supplying your heart, you’re likely to have a heart attack. If it’s one supplying your brain, you’re likely to have a stroke.

While there is no cholesterol level that makes these conditions a certainty, it’s wise to have your cholesterol tested by a GP – particularly as you approach older age. For those with higher cholesterol, lifestyle and diet adjustments will be suggested.

4. Obesity

Keeping your body at a healthy weight reduces your risk of circulatory diseases, Conversely, allowing your weight to increase to unhealthy levels is one of the main causes of heart disease and other circulatory problems.

Because the human metabolism slows as we age, weight challenges are something most people deal with at some point in their life. Thankfully there is a lot of advice and support out there, from groups like Slimming World to blogs like the BHF’s tips for successful weight loss.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”2695″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]Sometimes however keeping the weight off can feel like an uphill struggle. This can be both emotionally challenging, and can cause us to slip into…

5. Unhealthy living habits

In terms of what causes heart problems this is the broadest category and one that thankfully you do have some command over. Unhealthy living habits can include:

As we outlined in our blog post ‘Alcohol Awareness Week: Can Drink Cause Heart Problems?’, consuming too much alcohol outside of moderation is one of the more common causes of heart disease. On the positive side, balancing your alcohol intake with regular exercise each day, eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and also cutting out smoking, can all help to offset heart disease symptoms.

One way to combat the difficulties of weight gain caused by unhealthy living habits is to make a dynamic adjustment in mindset. If you’re looking to do that, the support of a life coach could be invaluable for your self-care regimen. If that sounds intriguing, try looking up The Life Coach Directory to find a coach that’s suitable for you.

How old is your heart?

If you’re concerned about heart problems, the first place you might start is by using the NHS’s heart age calculator. It will ask you about your medical history and other personal information, and will suggest the number of extra years you could give your heart by making some changes towards healthier lifestyle habits.

Here at WEL Medical we’re all for people becoming empowered to take care of their hearts. But should an unexpected cardiac arrest occur, we’re also proud to offer CPR training and the country’s most intuitive and accessible range of automated external defibrillators.

To learn more about what we do and how our work can keep your heart healthy, check out the blog posts below, or get in touch with us today.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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