Question

Coronary Heart Disease and Hypertension

Review Questions

Short Answer

1.      Identify the risk factors for heart disease. What control do people have over these risk factors?

2.      Identify four dietary recommendations for a patient who has had a heart attack. Describe how each recommendation facilitates recovery.

3.      Discuss the three levels of hypertension and the treatment options for each.

4.      What does the term essential hypertension mean? Why would weight control and sodium restriction contribute to its control? What other nutrient factors may     be involved in hypertension?

Answer 1

1. There are several risk factors for heart disease; some are controllable, others are not. Uncontrollable risk factors for heart disease include:

• Male sex
• Older age
• Family history of heart disease
• Being postmenopausal
• Race (African-Americans, American Indians, and Mexican Americans are more likely to have heart disease than Caucasians.)

Still, there are many heart disease risk factors that can be controlled. By making changes in your lifestyle, you can actually reduce your risk for heart disease. Controllable risk factors for heart disease include:

• Smoking
• High LDL and low HDL
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Physical inactivity
• Obesity (having a BMI greater than 25)
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• High C-reactive protein
• Uncontrolled stress, depression, and anger
• Poor diet
• Alcohol use

2.dietary recommendations for the patient who had a heart attack are

• Reduce the sodium in your food--Eating a lot of sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Reducing sodium is an important part of a heart-healthy diet.
• Limit unhealthy fats--Limiting how much saturated and trans fats you eat is an important step to reduce your blood cholesterol and lower your risk of coronary artery disease. A high blood cholesterol level can lead to a buildup of plaques in your arteries, called atherosclerosis, which can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Choose low-fat protein sources.
• Select whole grains--Whole grains are good sources of fiber and other nutrients that play a role in regulating blood pressure and heart health. You can increase the amount of whole grains in a heart-healthy diet by making simple substitutions for refined grain products.