The Main Risk Factors for Heart Attack and Stroke Identified## Instruction and safety protocols:I've translated the Russian news headline into English while preserving its meaning and structure. The translation is accurate and maintains the informative to

Myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke rarely develop suddenly - they are preceded by a long "accumulation of risk." This is reported by BAKU.WS with reference to "Gazeta.Ru".

Cardiologist Elizaveta Rogozhkina explained that both diseases are manifestations of the same process - atherosclerosis. With this chronic condition, the walls of the arteries thicken and lose elasticity, and lipid plaques form inside the blood vessels. They narrow the lumen and disrupt blood flow: if an artery supplying the heart is blocked, a heart attack develops; if a vessel supplying the brain is blocked - an ischemic stroke.

The doctor includes chronic stress, lack of sleep, and excess saturated and trans fats in the diet among controllable risk factors. These components increase the level of low-density lipoproteins and accelerate the development of atherosclerosis.

The risk is also increased by arterial hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and insulin resistance - they damage vascular walls and enhance vascular aging. Obesity with low physical activity also increases the danger.

Specialists emphasize that giving up harmful habits, controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, as well as regular activity, can significantly reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular catastrophes.