Doctor names unobvious causes of heart disease
Illustrative photo (Freepik)
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in Ukraine. According to statistics, cardiovascular diseases account for about 65-70% of all deaths in the country. But what causes them?
Сardiologist and internist Olena Solomko, PhD, who has over 25 years of medical experience, shared with RBC-Ukraine about the lesser-known causes of heart disease that often go unnoticed.
Unseen causes of heart disease
The doctor explained that stress, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, and smoking are primary risk factors among Ukrainians today. However, there are other causes as well.
"One of these less recognized factors is alcohol consumption. There's even a belief that alcohol is good for the heart," Olena said.
She said that recent studies suggest the opposite, showing alcohol is especially harmful to women. High alcohol consumption increases the risk of heart disease by 45% compared to those who consume it in lower quantities.
“It’s proven that alcohol raises blood pressure and leads to metabolic changes associated with inflammation and obesity. Additionally, depression and air pollution are lesser-known risk factors,” the cardiologist concluded.
Types of heart disease
Coronary heart disease - One of the most common forms of heart disease, it arises from restricted blood supply to the heart, often due to atherosclerosis. This condition can lead to myocardial infarction.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) - High blood pressure is a risk factor for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and other cardiovascular problems.
Heart failure - A condition in which the heart cannot efficiently pump blood throughout the body, leading to impaired function of other organs and systems.
Arrhythmias - These are disturbances in the heart's rhythm, which can be dangerous if they prevent the heart from pumping blood effectively.
Heart valve disease - This condition involves damage or deformation of the heart valves, which can disrupt blood circulation.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
