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Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality worldwide, and it is worth noting that men are more prone to heart attacks than women. This disparity cannot be ascribed to a singular factor; rather, it is due to a myriad of predisposing, modifiable, and behavioural factors that affect an individual’s biology. Awareness of these risk indicators can go a long way in the formulation of efficient prevention strategies, especially for the male populace.
Key Factors for Increased Risk of Heart Attacks in Men
The factors associated with the increased prevalence of heart attacks in men can be explained in the following sections:
1. Biological Factors
Expert cardiologists outline the biological factors contributing to men being more prone to heart attacks.
2. Genetic Factors
Hereditary factors also have a certain influence. Some genes related to cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, or inflammation may be more dominant in men or may be different in terms of expression. Such genetic variations may develop hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, therefore raising symptoms of heart attacks in men.
3. Lifestyle Factors
Several lifestyle choices can also be a disaster for your heart health.
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Smoking - Smoking, which remains strongly associated with a higher incidence of heart disease, is more common among men than women. The compounds present in tobacco smoke can injure the arterial walls, causing plaque formation and hypertension and reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
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Diet and Nutrition - The matter of diet also varies with gender. Men are assumed to take higher amounts of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol than females. These bleak dietary habits lead to the advancement of atherosclerosis by encouraging the deposition of plaque in arteries.
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Alcohol Consumption - Alcohol is toxic to the heart, and high alcohol consumption, especially among men, raises blood pressure and triglyceride levels. It can also cause cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle becomes weak and enlarged.
4. Behavioural Factors
Don’t be surprised! There are certain behavioural aspects that can put your heart health at risk.
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Stress and Coping Mechanisms - It has been found that when it comes to coping with stress, men often resort to certain unhealthy behaviours. For example, heavy drinking, smoking, or overeating. All of these elevate their risk of heart disease and also contribute to other health hazards that double this risk.
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Healthcare Seeking Behaviour - Men are also less likely to go for checkups or follow up on symptoms such as occasional pains or fatigue, which might hint at other risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels. It is apparent that these conditions should be monitored from an early stage. You must consult an experienced cardiologist to avoid heart disease.
5. Health Conditions
It is not something unknown that already-existing medical issues can increase the risk of heart attacks.
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Hypertension - Men are likely to get hypertension at a younger age than women, thus increasing the male heart disease threat. Increased blood pressure also negates the elasticity of arteries, which lays down fat deposits that cause heart attacks.
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Type 2 Diabetes - While both men and women are at risk, male diabetic patients have a higher likelihood of developing heart disease. Diabetes affects blood vessels as well as nerves responsible for the proper working of the heart, hence increasing the occurrence of heart attacks.
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Obesity - The male body typically deposits fat around the abdominal region, known as visceral fat, which is considered more dangerous for the heart than the subcutaneous fat that the female body tends to accumulate. Abdominal obesity is associated with insulin intolerance, inflammation, and other metabolic disorders that cause an increased incidence of myocardial infarction.
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Sedentary lifestyle - Sitting in the new smoking.
6. Hormonal Differences
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Testosterone: Men possess higher testosterone levels in their bodies than females, and this hormone is associated with raised levels of LDL, or “bad cholesterol.” This results in the formation of plaque at the walls of the arteries, hence resulting in the buildup of fatty substances that lead to atherosclerosis and heart attacks.
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Oestrogen: Oestrogen, present in premenopausal women, offers some protection by positively influencing lipid metabolism and improving the condition of blood vessels. It also raises the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), often referred to as ‘‘good cholesterol”, and has anti-inflammatory effects. Due to a decline in oestrogen levels, post-menopausal women have an almost similar risk of developing heart diseases as men.
Preventive Measures to Take - Despite these increased risks, men can adopt several preventive strategies to reduce their chances of experiencing a heart attack:
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Healthy Diet: Increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and good fats. Minimising the use of saturated and trans fats is necessary.
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Regular Exercise: Perform moderate-intensity exercises for at least 150 minutes every week to ensure the healthy functioning of the cardiovascular system and to adequately manage weight.
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Avoiding Smoking: Smoking cessation and shunning secondhand smoke have proven to lower the chances of developing heart disease.
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Moderating Alcohol Intake: Reduce intake of alcohol to moderate levels so as not to compound the problems it causes to the heart.
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Regular Health Check-ups: To learn more about how to prevent heart attacks, it is also encouraged to keep an eye on your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels. Consult with a cardiology specialist in Bangalore to tackle these risks properly.
FAQ's
Testosterone can increase LDL cholesterol levels. This contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries. Higher LDL levels are a known risk factor for atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Cultural and social factors, along with different stress coping mechanisms, contribute to higher smoking rates in men. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease as it damages the arteries and elevates blood pressure.
Yes, adopting a diet low in saturated and trans fats and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels and lower heart disease risk.
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