Disease Risk Indicators

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

  Cardiovascular disease (CVD) encompasses a number of conditions affecting the heart; however, the most common type—and the leading cause of the death in the U.S.—is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD occurs when plaque, made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the bloodstream, builds up in your coronary arteries. This buildup restricts the flow of blood to your heart. But, if the plaque ruptures, as a result of inflammation or other factors, it can also cause a blood clot that completely obstructs the passage of blood. Depending on where the obstruction occurs—in the arteries that feed the heart or the brain—blood clots can trigger a heart attack.

• Diabetes mellitus

  Diabetes mellitus (or diabetes) is a chronic metabolic condition in which your body is unable to properly process food for energy and growth. When you eat, your body breaks down food into a special sugar called glucose, which fuels the cells in your body. But critical to this process is insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas that allows your cells to take in glucose and use it for energy. If you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t effectively use the insulin it does make. This deficiency or resistance to insulin causes glucose to build up in your bloodstream and can lead to heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations.

• Metabolic syndrome

  Metabolic syndrome isn’t a disease. Instead, it’s a group of conditions —increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess belly fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels—that, in combination, can increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. With aggressive lifestyle changes, you can minimize these risk factors and prevent or delay the serious health issues they can cause.

• Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

  Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an inflammation of the liver, caused by fat buildup there. Over time, inflammation may lead to scarring and hardening of the liver, or cirrhosis. While many people have liver fat, only in some cases does this fat lead to liver damage. NASH is not a result of alcohol abuse and often has no obvious symptoms.