Summarize Carmen’s Controllable Risk Factors for Heart Disease

Carmen’s main controllable risk factors stem from her unhealthy lifestyle. She does not
engage in regular physical exercise and has failed to keep her weight in check. She also has high
blood pressure.
Discuss the relationship between the lifestyle factors of poor diet and sedentary behavior to
heart disease (particularly discuss the formation of plaque within the arteries). Use a
reference to support your explanation.
One’s lifestyle can increase the risk of getting heart disease. A diet that is high in
saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol has been linked directly to heart disease. These fats
result in fatty deposits building up in the body (Powers & Dodd, 2017). The result is that arteries
narrow down, and this, in turn, interferes with regular blood flow. Having fatty deposits can also
result in a stroke. In addition, eating too much salt can also increase the risk of one getting heart
disease. Having a sedentary lifestyle is one of the primary risk factors of heart disease. A
sedentary lifestyle is related to a lack of physical exercise, and this closely relates to developing
heart disease. Excess alcohol consumption is also a risk factor that can result in the development
of heart disease. Both men and women should ensure that they drink minimally to avoid the risk
of developing heart disease.
Explain the current recommendations for healthy levels of BMI, cholesterol, blood
pressure, and physical activity.
A healthy BMI range from 18.5 to 24.9. Any BMI reading below 18.5 is considered to be
underweight, while a reading of between 25.0 to 29.9 is considered to be overweight. Anything

above 30.0 is considered to be obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). It is
important for every person to work towards having a healthy weight. A healthy weight
eliminates the risk factors associated with diseases such as diabetes. One should also seek to
achieve a cholesterol level of less than 200 mg/dL (Powers & Dodd, 2017). A lower cholesterol
level indicates a lower risk of suffering from CHD. A cholesterol concentration of more than 240
mg/dL is an indicator of a high risk of developing CHD. The ideal blood pressure ranges from
90/60mmHg to 120/80mmHg. A reading of 150/90mmHg or higher is considered to be high
blood pressure. A reading of 90/60mmHg is considered to be low blood pressure. High blood
pressure is a risk factor for CHD. Physical activity is important because it aids blood flow.
Through physical activity, one is able to keep their blood pressure in check.
Devise a plan for Carmen to reduce her risk factors. The plan should include detailed
dietary guidelines (recommendations for specific amounts of fat, cholesterol, caloric intake,
etc.) and physical activity guidelines to include each of the FITT principles.
One important factor is that Carmen needs to integrate physical exercise into their
wellness plan. She has to complete a physical that will help define her fitness level. She also
breaks away from her sedentary lifestyle. Carmen needs to engage in light exercises as a start
before she progresses to more intense exercises. After that, she should enroll in a gym and fitness
center. She can begin by taking short walks and increasing the distance covered gradually. She
also needs to make a dietary change. She needs to start eating fewer calories and ensuring that
she takes a lot of vegetables and fruits. She should cut down on saturated fats and sugar and
should also work on avoiding red meat.

References

Powers, S. K., & Dodd, S. L. (2017). Total fitness & wellness, The Mastering Health
Edition (7th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com (Links to an external site.) 
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Body Mass Index
(BMI) https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/index.html