1.7.1 Risk Factors

• What does cardiovascular disease (CVD) refer to?

  Conditions affecting heart and vessels
• Coronary heart disease includes conditions such as heart
• What is a stroke in the context of CVD?

  Reduced blood flow to brain
• Modifiable risk factors are characteristics that can be changed
• What is the impact of smoking on CVD?

  Damages blood vessels
• High blood pressure strains the heart and blood vessels.
• What does high cholesterol contribute to in CVD?

  Atherosclerosis
• Match the modifiable risk factor with its impact on CVD:

  Smoking ↔️ Damages blood vessels

  High Blood Pressure ↔️ Strains heart and vessels

  High Cholesterol ↔️ Contributes to atherosclerosis

  Obesity ↔️ Increases diabetes risk
• Physical inactivity contributes to obesity and high blood pressure
• Diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves.
• How does quitting smoking reduce CVD risk?

  Improves blood vessel health
• Steps to reduce CVD risk through modifiable risk factors:

  1️⃣ Quit smoking

  2️⃣ Maintain healthy blood pressure

  3️⃣ Control cholesterol levels

  4️⃣ Manage weight

  5️⃣ Increase physical activity

  6️⃣ Manage diabetes if present
• Quitting smoking can lower blood pressure and improve vessel health.
• What does smoking do to blood vessels?

  Damages blood vessels
• Elevated levels of LDL cholesterol contribute to atherosclerosis
• Physical inactivity contributes to high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• What does diabetes damage in the body?

  Blood vessels and nerves
• Understanding CVD risk factors is crucial for making lifestyle modifications or seeking medical interventions
• What are the conditions included under cardiovascular disease (CVD)?

  Coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease
• Match the modifiable risk factor with its impact on CVD:

  Smoking ↔️ Damages blood vessels, increases blood pressure

  Obesity ↔️ Increases risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol

  Physical Inactivity ↔️ Contributes to obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol

  Diabetes ↔️ Damages blood vessels and nerves
• Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of CVD by improving blood vessel health and lowering blood pressure.
• What is the primary cause of atherosclerosis?

  Build-up of plaque in arteries
• Non-modifiable risk factors for CVD are characteristics that cannot be changed
• Match the non-modifiable risk factor with its impact on CVD:

  Age ↔️ Risk increases with age

  Family History ↔️ Genetic predisposition

  Genetics ↔️ Increases CVD risk
• What is the effect of increasing age on CVD risk?

  Risk increases with age
• A family history of CVD indicates a genetic predisposition
• Modifiable risk factors for CVD can be changed through lifestyle or medical interventions.
• How does smoking contribute to CVD?

  Damages blood vessels, increases blood pressure
• A family history of CVD raises the risk due to genetic predisposition
• What is the combined effect of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors on CVD?

  Increases likelihood and severity
• Smoking damages blood vessels and increases blood pressure
• High blood pressure strains the heart and arteries.
• What does high cholesterol contribute to in the cardiovascular system?

  Plaque formation
• Obesity increases stress on the heart
• Physical inactivity weakens the cardiovascular system.
• What does diabetes damage in the cardiovascular system?

  Blood vessels
• Match the non-modifiable risk factors with their descriptions:

  Age ↔️ Degrades blood vessel elasticity

  Family History ↔️ Genetic predisposition raises risk

  Genetics ↔️ Genetic conditions affect heart health
• Increasing age degrades blood vessel elasticity
• How does family history affect the risk of CVD?

  Genetic predisposition
• Genetic conditions directly increase the risk of CVD.