Time for a heart-to-heart.

Cardiovascular diseases are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. They include, but are not limited to:

• Coronary heart disease – a disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle;
• Cerebrovascular disease – a disease of the blood vessels supplying the brain;
• Peripheral arterial disease – a disease of blood vessels supplying the arms and legs;
• Rheumatic heart disease – damage to the heart muscle and heart valves from rheumatic fever, caused by streptococcal bacteria;
• Congenital heart disease – birth defects that affect the normal development and functioning of the heart caused by malformations of the heart structure from birth; and
• Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism – blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs.

Heart attacks and strokes are mainly caused by a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain. The most common reason for this is a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the blood vessels that supply the heart or brain. Strokes can be caused by bleeding from a blood vessel in the brain or from blood clot.

Some heart diseases and blood circulation conditions are passed down from parent to child. Others are the result of lifestyle choices.

Risk factors include:

• diabetes
• obesity (being at an unhealthy weight as determined by your health care professional)
• smoking
• high cholesterol
• a lack of exercise
• high blood pressure
• poor diet, which means you're:
• not eating enough vegetables and fruits
• consuming too much saturated fats and/or trans fats and salt, common in processed foods
• sleep apnea (trouble breathing during sleep)
• a family history of heart diseases and conditions

The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of having a heart disease or condition.

Yes, living with diabetes can increase the risk of several other diseases and health conditions besides heart disease. These include, but are not limited to:

• kidney disease (nephropathy)
• nerve damage (neuropathy)
• eye damage (retinopathy)
• foot problems (poor blood flow and nerve damage)
• skin conditions
• hearing impairment
• Alzheimer's disease
• depression
• gum disease

Managing diabetes effectively and keeping blood sugar levels within the target range can help reduce the risk of these complications. Regular check-ups and a comprehensive care plan are essential for managing the disease and preventing these associated health issues.

You are more likely to be hospitalized or to die from heart diseases and conditions if you are a:

• man who is 45 years of age or older
• woman who is 55 years of age or older

There is also a higher risk of heart disease for women who:

• take birth control pills, which increases the risk of high blood pressure and blood clots, but the risk is even greater if you also:
• smoke and are over 35 years old
• already have high blood pressure
• already have a blood clotting problem
• have gone through menopause

Some ethnic groups tend to have very high rates of heart disease. These groups include Aboriginal Canadians and Canadians whose origins are:

• African
• Arab
• Asian
• Hispanic
• South Asian

You can reduce your risk for heart diseases and conditions by changing your lifestyle choices. This includes:

• limiting alcohol
• quitting (or not starting) smoking
• reducing stress
• being physically active (ask your health care professional to advise you first on which exercises are right for you)
• eating nutritious and whole foods (fruits, vegetables, grains, milk and alternatives, meat and alternatives)
• maintaining a healthy weight (ask your health care professional to determine your healthy weight and create a plan to achieve and maintain it. Even losing a little extra weight can help reduce your risk of heart disease. Manage your diet carefully if you have diabetes and take your medications as indicated by your health care professional.)

If you have already had a heart attack or stroke, these changes can reduce the risk of having another.

You can further reduce your risk for heart diseases and conditions by:

• reading food labels to choose healthier products
• limiting foods and drinks high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt
• eating the amount of food recommended for your age, sex, and activity level
• avoiding saturated and trans fats found in snack foods, fried foods, and baked goods
• eating the right type and amount of fats to increase your good cholesterol and decrease your bad cholesterol

Yes, obesity is considered a chronic disease because managing obesity is a lifelong process.

• This is because your body tries to “defend” its fat stores to maintain your highest weight (this is what researchers call “starvation response”). This is why when you go on a diet or begin exercising, weight loss becomes progressively more difficult, and the weight will come back as soon as you stop or reduce your efforts at keeping it off.
• While short-term “quick-fix” solutions can sound appealing, they are usually temporary and are therefore linked to high rates of weight regain. Weight management is never about how much weight you can lose or how fast you can lose it – all that matters for your overall health and well-being is how much weight you can keep off while still living a life that you can enjoy. This is called your “best weight".

Obesity has been linked with many chronic diseases, including:

• hypertension
• Type 2 diabetes
• cardiovascular disease
• osteoarthritis
• certain types of cancer