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Heart disease does not develop overnight. Risk can build gradually over time through a combination of lifestyle choices , underlying health conditions, age, and genetics. Knowing what causes heart disease, understanding your own risk factors, and recognizing what you can change, can protect your heart from harmful diseases. in everyday life.
World Heart Day is observed every year on September 29 to raise awareness of heart and cardiovascular health. Some forms of cardiovascular disease may not cause obvious symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do appear, they may go beyond chest pain or shortness of breath. They can eventually affect daily life or lead to serious complications, such as myocardial ischemia or heart failure.
Heart care should therefore begin before symptoms appear. Knowing your risk factors and having your heart health assessed can help identify abnormalities earlier and manage those risks before the disease progresses or complications develop.
Heart disease can develop for many reasons and in different ways. It is not only related to diet or lifestyle but can also result from abnormalities in the blood vessels, heart valves, heart muscle, or the electrical system that controls the heartbeat.
Some causes of heart disease are also linked to underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, particularly when these conditions remain poorly controlled over a long period. Over time, they can gradually affect the heart even before noticeable symptoms appear.
Heart disease risk is different for everyone and usually does not come from a single factor. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the overall risk. In general, these factors fall into two groups: those you can modify and those you cannot.
These are factors that can often be improved through everyday lifestyle changes and better management of existing health conditions.
Some risk factors are inherited or change naturally with age. While these cannot be modified in the same way as lifestyle choices, knowing about them can help you make more informed decisions about your heart health.
Heart disease does not always begin with chest pain. Some people first notice shortness of breath, palpitations, unusual fatigue, or other symptoms that may not immediately seem related to the heart. If these symptoms become more frequent, more severe, or noticeably worse with physical activity, do not ignore them.
These symptoms do not always mean that heart disease is present. Still, recurring or worsening symptoms should be medically evaluated, particularly in people who already have cardiovascular risk factors.
If severe chest pain or pressure occurs together with difficulty breathing, cold sweats, dizziness, or pain spreading to the arm, back, neck, or jaw, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Preventing heart disease does not mean changing everything at once. Many meaningful changes can begin with small choices in everyday life. Eating better, moving more, quitting smoking, and keeping existing health conditions under control can all help reduce long-term cardiovascular risk.
Feeling healthy does not always mean that your heart is free from risk. Some abnormalities develop without causing symptoms at first. A health assessment can identify cardiovascular risk factors earlier and provide clearer guidance for long-term heart care.
World Heart Day may serve as an annual reminder to pay closer attention to heart health, but lowering cardiovascular risk comes from what we do every day, from the food we consume and how much we are physically active to the way we manage existing conditions and keep up with proper health checkups.
For people who would like a clearer picture of their cardiovascular health, particularly those with underlying health conditions, a family history of heart disease, or several risk factors, a heart screening program tailored to individual risk can help guide the next steps in long-term heart care.
The Cardiac Center at Vejthani International Hospital provides consultation, cardiovascular risk assessment, accurate diagnosis, and ongoing advanced treatment by cardiologists. Each assessment is selected according to the individual’s health status and risk profile, from initial screening to long-term care.
Not every type of heart or cardiovascular disease can be prevented. However, you can reduce many important risk factors by quitting smoking, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol within appropriate ranges.
People with high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, diabetes, excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle, or a history of smoking may have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Risk also increases with age and may be higher in people with a family history of heart disease, particularly when several risk factors are present together.
No single age applies to everyone for starting cardiac screening tests. The right time depends on symptoms, family history, existing health conditions, and individual risk factors. Monitor basic health indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol from adulthood, and consider additional tests such as an ECG or echocardiogram as clinically indicated.
For more information, please contact
Cardiac Center, Vejthani International Hospital
Call: (+66)2-734-0000 Ext. 5300
English Hotline: (+66)85-223-8888
