Just because your chest never hurts doesn't mean your heart and blood vessels are definitely fine. Internet celebrity doctor Canglan Ge pointed out that there may not be obvious symptoms before the onset of myocardial infarction, but vascular damage usually accumulates gradually over many years, and the risk may have been hidden in blood draw reports, blood pressure numbers or abdominal ultrasound. To prevent myocardial infarction and stroke, you should pay attention to six key points such as bad cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin, and blood pressure. In addition, you should lose weight and exercise regularly to reduce cardiovascular risks.
Canglange posted on Facebook fan page that people in the clinic often ask, "My chest never hurts, does it mean my heart is fine?" However, myocardial infarction often has no symptoms beforehand, but once it attacks, it can be quite serious and even fatal. Fortunately, vascular damage is not caused in one day, but accumulates slowly over many years. Therefore, grasping and controlling the following 6 things early will help to detect risks in advance.
•Bad cholesterol LDL: goals vary from person to person
LDL is the main raw material of vascular plaque. The average person is recommended to control it below 100 mg/dL; if you have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or cardiovascular disease, the target is usually more stringent and may need to be lower than 70; those who have had a myocardial infarction or have a stent installed, even need to lower it to below 55. Actual goals should still be based on individual risk levels and medical care.
•Glycated hemoglobin: maintain the normal range
Glycated hemoglobin can reflect the average blood sugar in the past three months. Below 5.7% is normal, and 5.7 to 6.4% is prediabetes, which is also the golden period for reversal. If diabetes has been diagnosed, the control target will most likely be below 7%, but it still needs to be adjusted individually based on age and risk of hypoglycemia, and discussion with your doctor is required.
•Blood pressure: 120/80mmHg is the ideal value
A blood pressure lower than 120/80mmHg is considered an ideal condition; for those who have received treatment for hypertension, most guidelines recommend keeping it below 130/80. Canlange recommends that patients measure their blood pressure at home in the morning and evening, and record it continuously for a week before returning for a visit. This is usually more valuable than a single number measured under stressful conditions between clinics.
•Uric acid: warning sign of metabolic imbalance
High uric acid often occurs with obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension, and is also associated with cardiovascular risk. Generally, anything over 7 mg/dL is considered too high. For those with gout, it is recommended to keep it below 6. Excessive uric acid may also harm vascular health.
• Fatty Liver Disease: Not Just a Liver Problem
Fatty liver disease doesn’t just affect the liver; studies have found that it is also linked to the risk of cardiovascular disease. If ultrasound detects moderate or higher fatty liver, it usually means there is more visceral fat and metabolic imbalance begins. However, fatty liver has a chance of reversal, and liver fat usually improves significantly after weight loss.
•Smoking cessation: the most often overlooked element
Smoking directly damages the endothelium of blood vessels and makes blood clot more easily. Even if the other five indicators are well controlled, as long as you continue to smoke, your cardiovascular risk may still be high. After you quit smoking, your risk will gradually decrease over time, and it's never too late to start.
Canlange pointed out that there are often common roots behind the above indicators, including: excessive visceral fat and insulin resistance. Therefore, weight loss and regular exercise can often improve blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids, uric acid and fatty liver at the same time. In terms of exercise, it is recommended to accumulate 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, combined with 1 to 2 strength training sessions; the diet should reduce refined starches, sugary drinks and processed foods, and consume more vegetables, whole grains, beans and fish. If you can lose 5 to 10% of your original weight, many numbers may start to improve.
Canlange reminds that people over 40 years old, or those in the family who have cardiovascular disease at a younger age, may consider having a complete metabolic examination once a year. The earlier abnormal values are detected and adjustments can be made, the greater the chance of reducing the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.
