Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term used for describing conditions that negatively impact the circulatory system and the heart, including heart attack, stroke, and heart disease.

During an appointment here at Virgin Island Orthopaedics and Medical Specialists, your physicians, Dr. Jeffrey Chase and Dr. Ahmet Sayan, can assess your risk for cardiovascular disease in either our St. Thomas or St. Croix locations, and make suggestions on how you can reduce it.

What are Non-Modifiable and Modifiable Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease?

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease could be divided into two categories: modifiable and non-modifiable. Modifiable risk factors are basically those that you can control or minimize with certain lifestyle adjustments, while non-modifiable risk factors are those that you can’t change.

While having one or several risk factors could increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will develop cardiovascular disease. There is, however, a higher chance that you might. This is why getting an accurate assessment of your risk for the disease is extremely vital.

Modifiable Risks Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

  • Smoking
  • An unhealthy diet
  • Physical inactivity
  • Unregulated cholesterol levels: low HDL or elevated LDL

Non-Modifiable Risks Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

  • Age
  • A history of cardiovascular disease in the family
  • Ethnicity
  • Sex

Reducing Your Risk of Developing Cardiovascular Disease

To try and minimize your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, you should eat a healthy diet with lots of veggies, fruits, whole grains, and healthy oils. You should likewise exercise at least five days per week, limit your intake of alcoholic drinks, and stop smoking right now. It’s also crucial to note that stress could significantly influence plenty of cardiovascular disease risk factors, which include excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and high blood pressure.

Furthermore, a poor work-to-personal-life balance can lead to stress and contributes to an individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease. This means that you should prioritize stress management and find effective ways to de-stress. Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight and managing health problems like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, with help from your doctor, is immensely vital.

Know Your Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Now

Schedule an assessment with one of our doctors, Dr. Jeffrey Chase or Dr. Ahmet Sayan here at the Virgin Island Orthopaedics and Medical Specialists. Call (340) 714-2845 for our St. Thomas office, or (340) 692-5000 for our St. Croix office.

St Thomas

340-714-2845

St Croix

340-692-5000

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Office Hours

Saint Thomas

Monday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

7:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

7:00 am-4:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

St. Croix

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed