Tag Archives: Coronary Heart Disease

Men’s Health Week recently took place Since men are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol to hazardous levels and be overweight or obese the focus is on leading a healthy lifestyle.

The sad fact is that one in five men don’t make it to retirement age. The biggest single cause of death in men is cancer, and 75% of premature deaths from coronary heart disease among men.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital for avoiding these sorts of diseases, yet men are more likely than women to smoke and drink alcohol at hazardous levels. Over 65% of men are overweight or obese. Participation in activity amongst men declines with age: 83% of men aged 16-24 met the recommendations for physical activity, compared with 57% aged 65-74.

Think about this next time you grumble about the failing NHS. Are you part of the problem?

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mens-health-week-2015-why-healthy-living

The shorter you are, the more your risk of coronary heart disease, according to a study carried out at the University of Leicester.

Coronary heart disease is when the arteries supplying blood to the heart become narrowed due to a build up of plaque. If a blood clot forms over the plaque then the risk of heart attack is raised, as the artery can become completely blocked. Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of premature death worldwide.

The researchers looked at genetic data from almost 200,000 people with or without coronary heart disease. They found that every 2.5 inch change in height affects coronary heart disease risk by 13.5%. So, for example, a 5 ft person has a 32% higher risk of coronary heart disease compared with a 5 ft 6 inch person because of their smaller height.

The take home message from this is that you can avoid coronary heart disease in the first place by exercising properly and eating sensibly, stopping smoking and cutting down on the alcohol. Ask your pharmacist if you need any advice.