The risk of developing diabetic heart disease (DHD) is directly related to a person's blood sugar level, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says.
The higher the blood sugar in a person with diabetes, the higher that person's risk of diabetic heart disease.
The agency offers these suggestions to help manage DHD:
- Make sure you get regular physical activity.
- Enjoy a heart-healthy diet.
- Keep your weight under control.
- Maintain good control of your blood sugar.
- Find ways to reduce your stress levels.
- If you smoke, stop.
- Follow your doctor's treatment plan for managing your health.
- Obtain regular, ongoing care from your doctor, including regular checkups and tests.
Smokers may love the habit, but tobacco smoke doesn't love the heart.
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says smoking can harm the heart in many ways, including:
- Causing thickened blood, making it more difficult for the blood to transport oxygen throughout the body.
- Increasing blood pressure and heart rate, forcing the heart to work harder.
- Lowering HDL ("good") cholesterol and raising LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Causing abnormal heart rhythms and an increase in inflammation, which may cause a build-up of arterial plaque.
- Causing hardening of the artery walls, which can cause narrowing and make it more difficult for the heart to pump blood.
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