Introduction to Cardiovascular Risk Factors
A recent study has highlighted that nearly all individuals who experience a heart attack or stroke had at least one warning sign years before the event. This groundbreaking research challenges the common belief that heart disease often strikes without warning, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and managing risk factors early on.
Prevalence of Risk Factors
The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that over 99% of patients had one or more risk factors prior to their cardiovascular emergency. These risk factors include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, poor blood sugar control, and smoking. Furthermore, approximately 93% of individuals had two or more of these risk factors.
Research Methodology
Researchers analyzed health records spanning more than a decade from over 9 million adults in South Korea and nearly 7,000 individuals in the United States. The study focused on four primary cardiovascular risk factors: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and tobacco use. The American Heart Association’s guidelines for heart health were used to define these risk factors, which include:
– Blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg or higher, or under treatment
– Total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or higher, or under treatment
– Fasting blood sugar of 100 mg/dL or higher, or a diagnosis of diabetes
– Past or current tobacco use
Key Findings
The study revealed that hypertension was the most common issue, affecting over 95% of patients in the South Korean cohort and more than 93% of the U.S. group. Even among women under 60, who are generally considered to have the lowest risk for heart health issues, over 95% had at least one risk factor before experiencing heart failure or a stroke.
Implications of the Study
The findings challenge recent claims in medical literature that heart attacks and coronary disease events occur increasingly without significant prior risk factors. The study underscores the continuous, dose-dependent, and cumulative effect of each risk factor, particularly blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking, on cardiovascular disease risk, even below clinical diagnostic thresholds.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Philip Greenland, a professor of cardiology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, emphasized the need to focus on controlling modifiable risk factors rather than seeking other non-causal factors that are difficult to treat. The research suggests that individuals should ensure their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels are within healthy ranges and abstain from smoking to reduce their risk of cardiovascular events.
Further Information
For more information on maintaining good heart health, the American Heart Association provides resources on Life’s Essential 8, which outlines key factors for cardiovascular wellness.
🔗 **Fuente:** https://spanish.healthday.com/noticias-salud/cardiovascular-diseases/el-ataque-cardiaco-y-el-acv-casi-siempre-se-presagian-segun-un-estudio