Cardiometabolic risk factors serve as vital signs that can predict how likely you are to suffer from potentially life-threatening illnesses like diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Knowing your cardiometabolic risk factors can help you make adjustments to your lifestyle and diet, and perhaps get medical attention, before health issues develop. Kevin Chan, DO, MS, FASA, and the team at Pineapple Health in Phoenix offer a range of preventive and primary care services to help you get — and stay — as healthy as possible.
Cardiometabolic risk factors: What they are and how they affect your health
According to the National Institutes of Health, some of the traditional and emerging cardiometabolic risk factors (CMR) include:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol (dyslipidemia)
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Inflammation
- Blood sugar levels that are too high or too low (dysglycemia)
- Insulin resistance
- Age
- Ethnicity
- Family history
- Poor diet
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Chronic stress
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, followed by cancer. Stroke is fifth, followed by diabetes at No. 7. While some cardiometabolic risk factors are beyond your control, a number of them can be managed and improved with a few lifestyle changes.
What you can do about your cardiometabolic risk factors
You might not be able to change or control your genes or family history, but a number of proactive steps can lower your risk of developing certain diseases and illnesses. Many of them will sound familiar; they coincide with maintaining good health in general.
- Quit smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Break up prolonged periods of sitting
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables
- Get enough sleep
- Get regular blood pressure screenings
- Manage your stress levels
In general, routine screenings for CMR factors are recommended for adults age 40 and older. However if you meet some of the risk factors like family history, have high blood pressure, or are obese, you should begin screening sooner.
Making lasting changes to your lifestyle, even for the sake of your health, can be challenging and frustrating. Dr. Chan and his team offer metabolic testing as well as medical nutrition counseling and other comprehensive services to help you understand what changes you need to make. They also design the best plan for your needs and lifestyle.
For more information about what your cardiometabolic risk factors are and what you can do about them, contact Pineapple Health today by calling 480-531-6001. You can also send the team a message here on their website, or you can request an appointment online.