Inflammation is a huge risk factor for heart disease; lifestyle, stress, diet and autoimmune diseases can all lead to increased inflammation. Watch cardiologist Suzanne Steinbaum, DO, explain why inflammation is a key risk factor to be aware of.
Inflammation is a huge risk factor for heart disease and can come from multiple different places including lifestyle. Inflammation can go up from stress it could actually go up from belly fat and having a poor diet but inflammation from things like autoimmune diseases rheumatologic diseases which most often happen in women can really increase your risk of heart disease but when you get stressed out think about it you're increasing the inflammation in your body and that is not good for your heart.
It's not uncommon for me to see women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who've been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease who've lived with high inflammatory markers for years showing up on my doorstep with symptoms of heart disease whether it's palpitations, chest pain or shortness of breath sometimes inflammatory markers can affect the heart.
So if you have any auto immune disease or inflammatory diseases really talk to your doctor especially if you have symptoms because it could be a sign that something is wrong with your heart. When you're sitting in back of a taxi stuck in traffic or there you are driving to work and you know you're going to be a half an hour late, when you start feeling your heart pounding and you're short of breath, stop because that's a sign that the fight of flight syndrome has kicked in and the inflammatory markers are running rampage through out your body and guess what, that could lead to heart disease.
So just stop breath, its worth it.
Heart disease kills more than 700,000 American every year. Discover how a healthy diet, exercise and managing stress help prevent heart disease by keeping your ticker strong. Learn about the latest breakthroughs in treating heart disease.
See All Health Topics A-Z