Heart health is about more than just the heart
Many people think heart health is only about the heart muscle and blood vessels, but that is not the whole picture. Your heart is deeply affected by how the rest of your body works, especially your metabolism.
Metabolism is the way your body uses food for energy. When this system is out of balance, it raises your risk for heart disease. Conditions like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and extra body fat around the waist all put added strain on the heart. These problems may develop in sets of metabolic disorders. For example, someone with excess belly fat may also have high blood pressure and high blood sugar, which forces the heart to pump harder while blood vessels are already under stress. Another common pairing is high triglycerides along with low HDL cholesterol, which makes it easier for plaque to build up in the arteries and restrict blood flow.
When multiple disorders like this are paired together, it is called metabolic syndrome. Having several of these issues at once greatly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These can begin to affect people long before they show signs of heart disease.
One key problem is insulin resistance. This happens when the body’s cells do not respond well to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. Blood sugar then stays too high, which damages blood vessels over time. Extra fat tissue, especially around the abdomen, also releases chemicals that cause inflammation. This silent inflammation can help plaque buildup in the arteries, narrowing them and reducing blood flow to the heart and brain. Cholesterol problems add to the risk as fatty deposits can collect in artery walls. Over time, this can lead to blocked arteries, chest pain, or heart attacks.
Cardiovascular disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States. Here in Ashtabula County, deaths from heart disease occur at a higher rate than state and national averages. Because of this, Ashtabula Regional Medical Center providers continue to stress that heart health matters at every age, not just later in life.
This is one reason yearly visits with your primary care provider are so important. These checkups help catch rising blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol early. If your risk of heart disease increases, a cardiologist can step in for specialized testing, treatment, and long-term heart care.
The good news is that many of these risks can improve not only heart health, but your overall wellbeing, too. Regular physical activity, healthy eating, weight control, plus managing blood pressure and blood sugar all help protect the heart. So, when you care for your whole body, you are also caring for your heart. Small steps taken today can lead to stronger long-term health, and it is never too early, or too late, to start protecting both your heart and your overall well-being.
Three Cleveland Clinic Cardiologists see patients at ARMC. To schedule an appointment with Ali Al-Assaad, MD; Ibrahim Barry, MD; or Perry Fleisher, MD, please call 440-994-7622.