By Becky John
Dr Ogechi Anaele, an Abuja based medical practitioner, on Tuesday said biological and unhealthy health habits could put one at risk of heart attack. She said this in an interview with the newsmen in Abuja. Anaele said the causes of a heart attack are as a result of some risk factors which could not be changed.
She said: “Some risk factors such as age cannot be changed as the odds of having a heart attack goes up with age as men have a greater risk than women.
“A family history of heart disease also increases one’s risk of a heart attack depending on if a family member has experienced it.
“If a first degree blood relative has had coronary heart disease or stroke before the age of 55 years for a male relative or 65 years for a female relative your risk increases.
“Smoking can raise your risk of a heart attack especially high if one started smoking when young, smokes heavily or is a woman.
“So one having high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes and being obese such as a diet high in saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
“Other things that can raise your risk of a heart attack are lack of exercise, depression and stress.’’
According to Anaele, the causes of a heart attack are as a result of some factors that can lead to it.
She said: “A buildup of cholesterol and a fatty material called plaque in your artery walls usually cause a heart attack.
“The buildup of plaque takes years to accumulate as most heart attacks happen when plaque breaks off your artery wall.
“A blood clot then forms around the broken-off plaque which is blocking the artery.”
