Some of the most common conditions or diseases seen in the developed world are those related to blood flow and blockages of the veins and arteries that carry nutrients and oxygen to the heart or brain.

If there is a blockage in the system can cause a heart attack or ischemia, a restriction in blood supply to tissues . Both can have a devastating effect not only on the victim but on their family and friends. How can you prevent it?

Although we cannot eliminate every possibility of developing a condition such as this, there are two types of risk that should be considered – those we can control and those we can’t.

Risk factors that you cannot control:

1. Age

No matter what the cosmetic companies say, we cannot control the ageing process. It is a fact of life and it can be more beneficial to accept our age, allowing us to adapt to the constraints it provides, rather than trying to “stop the clock”.

2. Gender

It seems that men are more likely than women to suffer a heart attack or ischemia. This does not mean that women should not take the same precautions. Both sexes are vulnerable.

3. Genetic Factors

If there is a history of this disease in the family, it is thought that it will be more likely that a person will suffer a heart attack unless certain precautions are taken.

4. Ethnicity

Studies indicate that there are several “races” that are more prone to cardiovascular diseases than others. For example, it is believed that Caucasian males are more likely to suffer a heart attack than a man in South Asia.

5. Background

If you’ve suffered some kind of circulation problem or angina, you are more at risk of a heart attack. This means you’ll have even more reasons to control risk factors .

6. The X Factor or The Unknown

Although medical science advances every year, many of these factors are unknown. There are even theories that suggest that the cause of this type of disease is a virus.

We’ve discussed those factors we can not control, but we must take them into account when we eat, drink or do something we should probably avoid. Let’s take a look at those factors we can control.

Risk Factors That We Can Control:

7. Obesity

Being overweight can cause many problems in addition to cardiovascular disease, so it must be controlled, especially the fat that accumulates around the waist. The British Heart Foundation says that men who have a waist that measures more than 94 cm and 80 cm for women may have health problems. If these measures increase to 102 cm and 88 cm, respectively, then they have a high risk of heart attack. To regularly monitor your waist, find the top of the hip bone and the bottom of the ribs. From there, use a measuring tape beginning at your navel, holding it in place while you wrap it around your torso. Once around, the tape should give you a correct measurement of your waist.

8. High Cholesterol

Basically, we should avoid eating too much red meat and generally large amounts of animal fat, in either liquid or solid form. Learn to read food labels and make sure what is in each product.

9. High Blood Pressure

As we mentioned above, if you consider yourself overweight, a good diet and exercise are key and you should have your levels checked regularly. Healthy values are 125/80. If they are much higher than this – for example 150/100 – you should visit a doctor.

10. Diabetes

Diabetes can be very harmful, but it is a condition that can be controlled if you take into account the risk factors we mentioned. Healthy glucose values ​​are between 90 and 110.

11. Smoking

As it says on the package of tobacco products: “Smoking Kills” . Not only is nicotine harmful, smokers also have to worry about all the other chemical components they inhale in the process. It is not a matter of control or moderation but complete eradication of tobacco.

12. Physical Inactivity

It has been proven, without a doubt, that exercise is essential to not only controlling the risk of cardiovascular disease, but also the protection of your general welfare.  You do not have to train for the Olympic Games, only start running, walking, swimming or cycling at least 3 times a week and 45 to 60 minutes each session.

13. Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Be careful with the amount of alcohol you drink. That said, there are some benefits to drinking small amounts of red wine or whiskey. For example, you can have a whiskey drink a few times a week or maximum two glasses of red wine a day.

14. Stress

Like anything and everything, too much stress can be harmful, especially if it is chronic or constant. Of course everyone is different and some do not just need stress in their life, but also benefit from it.

15. Ignorance and Lack of Common Sense

When you want to prevent something you should know your “enemy”. Be aware what best suits you. You don’t have to be paranoid about what you eat .

Enjoy life but in moderation. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to know if you drink too much alcohol every day, you smoke a pack of cigarettes every day, eat a lot of junk food and refuse to move from the sofa, you’re just looking for trouble.