Posts Tagged ‘Coronary Artery Disease’
As you can see, heart disease comes in a variety of life-threatening forms. All heart diseases are referred to as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). CVDs include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, rheumatic heart disease, artery diseases, pulmonary heart disease, and congenital cardiovascular defects.
Coronary heart disease, also referred to as coronary artery disease (CAD), is the most common form and represents 54 percent of all cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery disease includes angina pectoris, which is chest pain from narrowing of blood vessels, and myocardial infarction (MI), also known as a heart attack, from the complete blockage of blood supply to the heart.
It is possible for a person to have more than one type of cardiovascular disease at the same time. For example, a person may have both coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. Coronary artery disease is responsible for more than half of all cardiac events in men and women under age seventy-five. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study, the lifetime risk of developing CAD after age forty is 49 percent for men and 32 percent for women.
Scientists now know that atherosclerosis can start in childhood. Researchers have found the beginning of fatty streaks in the arteries of children as young as three years old. The average American has significant buildup in his or her arterial walls by middle age. In women, possibly because of the protective effects of estrogen, the thicker buildups do not begin to show up until after menopause.
Even without the impact of a stroke or heart attack, atherosclerosis advances the aging process. Healthy circulation in the body is the source of nutrition and life for the cells. As this circulation is slowly cut off, it impairs the functioning of your cells. Atherosclerosis does not need to be inevitable. With knowledge of the mechanisms that contribute to this disease, you can take steps to reduce your risks and to prolong your youthful vitality and energy.
Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease
The principle cause of coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis comes from the root words “atheroma” and “sclerosis,” which means “to harden.” Atherosclerosis is a process that leads to a group of diseases characterized by the thickening of artery walls. The thickening results from a buildup of plaque on the arterial walls. Plaque is made up of various types of debris that collect on areas of inflammation on blood vessel walls, causing more and more narrowing of the passage through which blood can flow.
Plaque is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes. Small plaques accumulate throughout the arteries in the entire body and can be difficult to detect. Doctors can more easily discover the large, hardened plaques in the coronary arteries. These typically cause the chest pains associated with angina.
Small plaque buildups, however, are just as concerning as thick, hard plaques. Researchers now have determined that these smaller plaques are less solid on the outside and, consequently, less stable. These small, unstable plaques are much more likely to rupture and release the cholesterol mass into the bloodstream. This concentrated cholesterol contributes to formation of blood clots. If a small plaque buildup in the coronary arteries ruptures and forms a blood clot, it can trigger a heart attack.
As an initial assessment of your likelihood of having CAD, ask yourself the following questions:
Have you ever had a heart attack?
Have you had recurring chest pain that has been diagnosed as angina?
Have you had heart surgery such as a bypass operation or angioplasty procedure?
Have you ever had an angiogram that showed a blockage in your coronary arteries?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you probably have CAD. Be sure to discuss strategies to manage your cholesterol levels with your health-care provider.
By: Alien
About the Author:
Coronary heart disease, also referred to as coronary artery disease (CAD), is the most common form and represents 54 percent of all cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery disease includes angina pectoris, which is chest pain from narrowing of blood vessels, and myocardial infarction (MI), also known as a heart attack, from the complete blockage of blood supply to the heart.
It is possible for a person to have more than one type of cardiovascular disease at the same time. For example, a person may have both coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. Coronary artery disease is responsible for more than half of all cardiac events in men and women under age seventy-five. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study, the lifetime risk of developing CAD after age forty is 49 percent for men and 32 percent for women.
Scientists now know that atherosclerosis can start in childhood. Researchers have found the beginning of fatty streaks in the arteries of children as young as three years old. The average American has significant buildup in his or her arterial walls by middle age. In women, possibly because of the protective effects of estrogen, the thicker buildups do not begin to show up until after menopause.
Even without the impact of a stroke or heart attack, atherosclerosis advances the aging process. Healthy circulation in the body is the source of nutrition and life for the cells. As this circulation is slowly cut off, it impairs the functioning of your cells. Atherosclerosis does not need to be inevitable. With knowledge of the mechanisms that contribute to this disease, you can take steps to reduce your risks and to prolong your youthful vitality and energy.
Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease
The principle cause of coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis comes from the root words “atheroma” and “sclerosis,” which means “to harden.” Atherosclerosis is a process that leads to a group of diseases characterized by the thickening of artery walls. The thickening results from a buildup of plaque on the arterial walls. Plaque is made up of various types of debris that collect on areas of inflammation on blood vessel walls, causing more and more narrowing of the passage through which blood can flow.
Plaque is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes. Small plaques accumulate throughout the arteries in the entire body and can be difficult to detect. Doctors can more easily discover the large, hardened plaques in the coronary arteries. These typically cause the chest pains associated with angina.
Small plaque buildups, however, are just as concerning as thick, hard plaques. Researchers now have determined that these smaller plaques are less solid on the outside and, consequently, less stable. These small, unstable plaques are much more likely to rupture and release the cholesterol mass into the bloodstream. This concentrated cholesterol contributes to formation of blood clots. If a small plaque buildup in the coronary arteries ruptures and forms a blood clot, it can trigger a heart attack.
As an initial assessment of your likelihood of having CAD, ask yourself the following questions:
Have you ever had a heart attack?
Have you had recurring chest pain that has been diagnosed as angina?
Have you had heart surgery such as a bypass operation or angioplasty procedure?
Have you ever had an angiogram that showed a blockage in your coronary arteries?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you probably have CAD. Be sure to discuss strategies to manage your cholesterol levels with your health-care provider.
By: Alien
About the Author:
Read more on natural hgh. Check out for Chemotherapy and Hoodia pills.
ease is a staggering health problem that approximately 70 million people currently endure. Heart disease is also the nations leading killer, it accounts for over 900,000 heart attacks and strokes each year. Do I have your attention now?
What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is any problem that impairs the structure or function of the heart, such as hypertensive diseases, congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and atherosclerotic and other conditions. The circulatory system has heart disease has one of its problems. For the most part heart disease is primarily a disease of lifestyle. What kind of lifestyle do you maintain in regards to health?
Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease; atherosclerosis is a process whereby the arteries that carry the blood become greatly narrowed from fatty plaque deposits. This plaque build up can cause blood clots to form that block the arteries, can also narrow the arteries, so that less blood can flow the heart, or can completely block the arteries and the flow of blood to the heart, causing a heart attack and possible death. There are some proven methods to breaking up this plaque and one of them is called chelation.
What Is Oral Chelation?
Chelating agents are substances, which can chemically bond with or chelate metals, minerals or chemical toxins from the body. The chelating agent actually encircles a mineral or metal ion and carries it from the body via the urine and feces. EDTA is the primary compound of oral chelation and it can bind or chelate calcium as well as other minerals in the body. It will remove calcium particles deposited in arterial wall plaques and atheromas.
Moreover, EDTA can block the slow calcium currents in the arterial wall, resulting in arterial vasodilatation. Oral chelation fits into the heart disease problem because hardening of the arteries leads to atherosclerosis. The degenerative disease Atherosclerosis can greatly narrow or even block arteries in the brain, heart and other parts of the body. Currently the number one killer in the United States is heart disease, but oral chelation can be implemented to possibly reduce the chances of succumbing to this killer!
DISCLAIMER
The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practioner/ patient relationship with its readers.
By: Eugene Williams
About the Author:
What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is any problem that impairs the structure or function of the heart, such as hypertensive diseases, congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and atherosclerotic and other conditions. The circulatory system has heart disease has one of its problems. For the most part heart disease is primarily a disease of lifestyle. What kind of lifestyle do you maintain in regards to health?
Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease; atherosclerosis is a process whereby the arteries that carry the blood become greatly narrowed from fatty plaque deposits. This plaque build up can cause blood clots to form that block the arteries, can also narrow the arteries, so that less blood can flow the heart, or can completely block the arteries and the flow of blood to the heart, causing a heart attack and possible death. There are some proven methods to breaking up this plaque and one of them is called chelation.
What Is Oral Chelation?
Chelating agents are substances, which can chemically bond with or chelate metals, minerals or chemical toxins from the body. The chelating agent actually encircles a mineral or metal ion and carries it from the body via the urine and feces. EDTA is the primary compound of oral chelation and it can bind or chelate calcium as well as other minerals in the body. It will remove calcium particles deposited in arterial wall plaques and atheromas.
Moreover, EDTA can block the slow calcium currents in the arterial wall, resulting in arterial vasodilatation. Oral chelation fits into the heart disease problem because hardening of the arteries leads to atherosclerosis. The degenerative disease Atherosclerosis can greatly narrow or even block arteries in the brain, heart and other parts of the body. Currently the number one killer in the United States is heart disease, but oral chelation can be implemented to possibly reduce the chances of succumbing to this killer!
DISCLAIMER
The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practioner/ patient relationship with its readers.
By: Eugene Williams
About the Author:
Heart disease kills more Americans than any other illness. Hundred of thousands of people around the world die of heart attacks and strokes each year. There is something that can be done to reverse heart disease. For more infromation check out http://www.born-again-health-and-fitness.com/congestive-heart-failure.html
What causes heart disease may be a question weigning on your minds. With more and more people dying each day from heart attacks, it is only natural that you want to know what is going on, what is causing you or a loved one’s poor health, and how to rectify the situation. I have listed some valuable information for you to read in one easy-to-read webpage. This is a free service which can be found on this link: Heart Disease Causes.
Heart disease is a somewhat loose phrase used interchangeably to describe a broad range of heart problems. Some of the illnesses that fall under the heart disease category are high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart failure, strokes and coronary artery disease. Heart disease is a leading cause of death around the world. So what ultimately causes heart disease?
Heart disease is caused by a number of factors including:
Poor diets full of saturated fats usually from eating too much junkfood and not enough fruits and vegetables. Poor exercise habits, or no exercising at all. The heart is a muscle and needs exercise in order to maintain proper and healthy operation. Smoking is a leading cause of heart disease. Being overweight is a major factor in developing heart disease.
When your arteries harden, this places restrictions on blood flow to organs and tissues, which is what causes heart disease. This deprives your body’s organs of vital oxygen and nutrients needed to function in the right way. It should be noted that what causes heart disease is not always due to hardening of the arteries.
Some forms of heart disease are caused by other genetic or heredity diseases, such as heart valve diseases, congenital heart defects and disease, heart infections, and cardio myopathy. While some heart problems you may not be able to control, most are developed over a lifetime of unhealthy living habits. Remember, prevention is better than cure. For more information on heart disease causes feel free to visit our website.
By: Daniel Sherwood
About the Author:
Heart disease is a somewhat loose phrase used interchangeably to describe a broad range of heart problems. Some of the illnesses that fall under the heart disease category are high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart failure, strokes and coronary artery disease. Heart disease is a leading cause of death around the world. So what ultimately causes heart disease?
Heart disease is caused by a number of factors including:
Poor diets full of saturated fats usually from eating too much junkfood and not enough fruits and vegetables. Poor exercise habits, or no exercising at all. The heart is a muscle and needs exercise in order to maintain proper and healthy operation. Smoking is a leading cause of heart disease. Being overweight is a major factor in developing heart disease.
When your arteries harden, this places restrictions on blood flow to organs and tissues, which is what causes heart disease. This deprives your body’s organs of vital oxygen and nutrients needed to function in the right way. It should be noted that what causes heart disease is not always due to hardening of the arteries.
Some forms of heart disease are caused by other genetic or heredity diseases, such as heart valve diseases, congenital heart defects and disease, heart infections, and cardio myopathy. While some heart problems you may not be able to control, most are developed over a lifetime of unhealthy living habits. Remember, prevention is better than cure. For more information on heart disease causes feel free to visit our website.
By: Daniel Sherwood
About the Author:
~heart attack (myocardial infarction)-when a part of heart muscle is permanently damaged or actually dies because there’s not enough oxygen.
~unstable angina-is an intermediary between myocardial infarction and stable angina.It’s manifestation is a severe chest pain that lasts more than stable angina and it doesn’t respond very well to medication.
~angina-is a chest discomfort which occurs when the coronary vessels receive an inadequate blood flow.
~atherosclerosis-occurs when fatty material deposite into the arteries walls. This can lead to a blockage of the arteries.
Other risk factors for ischemic heart disease are:
~hypertension (high blood pressure)- blood pressure can vary with activity and with age, but a healthy adult who is resting generally has a systolic pressure reading between 120 and 130 and a diastolic pressure reading between 80 and 90 (or below).
~diabetes-heart problems are the leading cause of death among people with diabetes, especially in the case of non-insulin-dependent diabetes also known as Type II diabetes.
~high blood cholesterol-cholesterol is a fat-like substance carried in your blood.It can be found in all of your body’s cells. The liver produces all of the cholesterol your body needs to form cell membranes and to make certain hormones. Extra cholesterol enters your body when you eat foods that come from animals (meats, eggs,and other similar products).
~obesity and overweight- extra weight leads to increased total cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Obesity increases your chances of developing other risk factors for heart disease, especially high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes.
~smoking- It’s well known that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer, but few people know that it also increases the risk of heart disease and peripheral vascular disease (disease in the vessels that supply blood to the arms and legs). Smoking also raises blood pressure, which increases the risk of stroke in people who already have high blood pressure.
~birth control pills-At the beginning birth control pills contained high levels of estrogen and progestin, and taking these pills increased the chances of heart disease and stroke, especially in women older than 35 who smoked. In our days the dose of hormones contained in these pills has been lowered and they are considered safe for women younger than 35, who do not smoke or have high blood pressure.
~physical inactivity- people who exercise regularly have a lower risk of heart attack than people who are not active. Exercise burns calories, may lower blood pressure and helps to control cholesterol levels and diabetes. In addition to this exercise makes the arteries more flexible and strengthens the heart muscle.
~stress- Stressful situations raise your heart rate and blood pressure, increasing your heart’s need for oxygen. The need for oxygen can cause angina pectoris, or chest pain, in people who already have heart disease.
It’s advisable that your doctor checks your risk for heart disease at least once a year by checking your cholesterol and blood pressure levels and asking whether you smoke or have a family history of heart disease. Also he can check your urine for protein, because this represents another risk factor for heart disease.
By: keysha
About the Author:
~unstable angina-is an intermediary between myocardial infarction and stable angina.It’s manifestation is a severe chest pain that lasts more than stable angina and it doesn’t respond very well to medication.
~angina-is a chest discomfort which occurs when the coronary vessels receive an inadequate blood flow.
~atherosclerosis-occurs when fatty material deposite into the arteries walls. This can lead to a blockage of the arteries.
Other risk factors for ischemic heart disease are:
~hypertension (high blood pressure)- blood pressure can vary with activity and with age, but a healthy adult who is resting generally has a systolic pressure reading between 120 and 130 and a diastolic pressure reading between 80 and 90 (or below).
~diabetes-heart problems are the leading cause of death among people with diabetes, especially in the case of non-insulin-dependent diabetes also known as Type II diabetes.
~high blood cholesterol-cholesterol is a fat-like substance carried in your blood.It can be found in all of your body’s cells. The liver produces all of the cholesterol your body needs to form cell membranes and to make certain hormones. Extra cholesterol enters your body when you eat foods that come from animals (meats, eggs,and other similar products).
~obesity and overweight- extra weight leads to increased total cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Obesity increases your chances of developing other risk factors for heart disease, especially high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes.
~smoking- It’s well known that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer, but few people know that it also increases the risk of heart disease and peripheral vascular disease (disease in the vessels that supply blood to the arms and legs). Smoking also raises blood pressure, which increases the risk of stroke in people who already have high blood pressure.
~birth control pills-At the beginning birth control pills contained high levels of estrogen and progestin, and taking these pills increased the chances of heart disease and stroke, especially in women older than 35 who smoked. In our days the dose of hormones contained in these pills has been lowered and they are considered safe for women younger than 35, who do not smoke or have high blood pressure.
~physical inactivity- people who exercise regularly have a lower risk of heart attack than people who are not active. Exercise burns calories, may lower blood pressure and helps to control cholesterol levels and diabetes. In addition to this exercise makes the arteries more flexible and strengthens the heart muscle.
~stress- Stressful situations raise your heart rate and blood pressure, increasing your heart’s need for oxygen. The need for oxygen can cause angina pectoris, or chest pain, in people who already have heart disease.
It’s advisable that your doctor checks your risk for heart disease at least once a year by checking your cholesterol and blood pressure levels and asking whether you smoke or have a family history of heart disease. Also he can check your urine for protein, because this represents another risk factor for heart disease.
By: keysha
About the Author:
Best informations about ischemic heart disease visit the best webiste www.ischemic-heart-disease.info causes, treatment, symptoms of ischemia .
Congestive heart disease is a physical disorder in which the heart no longer pumps hard enough. Since the heart pumps weakly, blood can back up into the lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and extremities.
Congestive heart disease is also called congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac failure, or heart failure. These names can be misleading, since they seem to indicate that the heart has totally failed and that death is imminent. This is not the case. Congestive heart disease is nearly always a chronic, long-term condition, although it does sometimes develop suddenly.
How Common Is Congestive Heart Disease?
Of 100 people between the ages of 27 and 74, approximately 2 have congestive heart disease. That means about 6 million people in the U.S. are affected by the disease. After age 74, congestive heart disease becomes more common. It is said to be the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens.
Causes of Congestive Heart Disease
Congestive heart disease has many causes. They include, but are not limited to, the following causes:
* Weakening of the heart muscle due to viral infections. The weakness may also be caused by toxins such as alcohol abuse.
* Weakening of the heart muscle by coronary artery disease that has led to heart attacks.
* Weakening of the heart muscle by heart valve disease that involves large amounts of blood leakage.
* Heart muscle stiffness caused by a blocked heart valve.
* Uncontrolled high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
* High levels of the thyroid hormone.
* Excessive use of amphetamines (”speed”).
Symptoms of Congestive Heart Disease
Either side of the heart muscle may weaken and cause congestive heart disease. The symptoms of congestive heart disease depend on the side of the heart that is affected. They can include these:
* asthma that can be attributed to the heart
* blood pooling in the body’s overall circulation
* blood pooling in the liver’s circulation
* enlargement of the heart
* shortness of breath
* skin color that appears bluish or dusky
* swelling of the body, especially the extremities
Congestive Heart Disease Risk Factors
As is true with most heart disease, family history is a major risk factor for congestive heart disease. Genetics cannot easily be altered. Age is a second risk factor that cannot be changed. Congestive heart disease is particularly prevalent among older people.
Aside from those two, however, risk factors can and should be addressed. Here are 7 risk factors for congestive heart disease that you may want to discuss with your health care provider.
1. High blood pressure: This is the highest risk factor for congestive heart disease! Men with uncontrolled high blood pressure are twice as likely as those with normal blood pressure to suffer congestive heart disease. If a woman has uncontrolled high blood pressure, she is three times as likely as women with normal blood pressure to develop congestive heart disease.
2. Heart Attacks: This is the second highest risk factor for congestive heart disease. Those who have had heart attacks that resulted in damage to the heart muscle, and scarring of the muscle tissue, have increased risks of experiencing congestive heart disease.
3. High Cholesterol: Showing high levels of cholesterol, particularly when levels of HDL are low, is listed as another risk factor for congestive heart disease.
4. Diabetes: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are risk factors for developing congestive heart disease.
5. Obesity: Men and women who are overweight unnecessarily increase their risks of experiencing congestive heart disease. The heart must work harder when the body is not at a healthy weight, and can begin to lose its ability to deliver blood efficiently.
6. Prolonged Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle, with little exercise, puts people at risk for congestive heart disease, especially as they increase in age. The heart needs cardiovascular exercise to remain strong and able to function well.
7. Smoking: Smoking increases the heart’s workload. It also affects the lungs. This is a risk for congestive heart disease that anyone can eliminate.
CAUTION: Please see your doctor if you have reason to think you may have one or more of the risk factors or symptoms of congestive heart disease. The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only.
By: Anna Hart
About the Author:
Congestive heart disease is also called congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac failure, or heart failure. These names can be misleading, since they seem to indicate that the heart has totally failed and that death is imminent. This is not the case. Congestive heart disease is nearly always a chronic, long-term condition, although it does sometimes develop suddenly.
How Common Is Congestive Heart Disease?
Of 100 people between the ages of 27 and 74, approximately 2 have congestive heart disease. That means about 6 million people in the U.S. are affected by the disease. After age 74, congestive heart disease becomes more common. It is said to be the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens.
Causes of Congestive Heart Disease
Congestive heart disease has many causes. They include, but are not limited to, the following causes:
* Weakening of the heart muscle due to viral infections. The weakness may also be caused by toxins such as alcohol abuse.
* Weakening of the heart muscle by coronary artery disease that has led to heart attacks.
* Weakening of the heart muscle by heart valve disease that involves large amounts of blood leakage.
* Heart muscle stiffness caused by a blocked heart valve.
* Uncontrolled high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
* High levels of the thyroid hormone.
* Excessive use of amphetamines (”speed”).
Symptoms of Congestive Heart Disease
Either side of the heart muscle may weaken and cause congestive heart disease. The symptoms of congestive heart disease depend on the side of the heart that is affected. They can include these:
* asthma that can be attributed to the heart
* blood pooling in the body’s overall circulation
* blood pooling in the liver’s circulation
* enlargement of the heart
* shortness of breath
* skin color that appears bluish or dusky
* swelling of the body, especially the extremities
Congestive Heart Disease Risk Factors
As is true with most heart disease, family history is a major risk factor for congestive heart disease. Genetics cannot easily be altered. Age is a second risk factor that cannot be changed. Congestive heart disease is particularly prevalent among older people.
Aside from those two, however, risk factors can and should be addressed. Here are 7 risk factors for congestive heart disease that you may want to discuss with your health care provider.
1. High blood pressure: This is the highest risk factor for congestive heart disease! Men with uncontrolled high blood pressure are twice as likely as those with normal blood pressure to suffer congestive heart disease. If a woman has uncontrolled high blood pressure, she is three times as likely as women with normal blood pressure to develop congestive heart disease.
2. Heart Attacks: This is the second highest risk factor for congestive heart disease. Those who have had heart attacks that resulted in damage to the heart muscle, and scarring of the muscle tissue, have increased risks of experiencing congestive heart disease.
3. High Cholesterol: Showing high levels of cholesterol, particularly when levels of HDL are low, is listed as another risk factor for congestive heart disease.
4. Diabetes: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are risk factors for developing congestive heart disease.
5. Obesity: Men and women who are overweight unnecessarily increase their risks of experiencing congestive heart disease. The heart must work harder when the body is not at a healthy weight, and can begin to lose its ability to deliver blood efficiently.
6. Prolonged Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle, with little exercise, puts people at risk for congestive heart disease, especially as they increase in age. The heart needs cardiovascular exercise to remain strong and able to function well.
7. Smoking: Smoking increases the heart’s workload. It also affects the lungs. This is a risk for congestive heart disease that anyone can eliminate.
CAUTION: Please see your doctor if you have reason to think you may have one or more of the risk factors or symptoms of congestive heart disease. The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only.
By: Anna Hart
About the Author:
© 2007, Anna Hart. Anna’s mother-in-law suffered from congestive heart disease. In addition, being married to a man who suffers from heart disease, Anna brings to her writing years of experience and research. She invites you to read more of her articles about heart disease at http://www.your-heart-disease-blog.com. If you know someone who faces open heart surgery, you won’t want to miss Anna’s personal insights on that. Visit Anna now.
Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as coronary artery disease (CAD) and Atherosclerotic heart disease, and Arteriosclerosis, is a disease affecting the walls blood vessel. This disease may be one of the most easily preventable diseases of the modern civilization in the 40 to 70 age group. It is characterized by the thickening and hardening of the arties. This loss of elastically and narrowing of the arties can lead to high blood pressure and if left untreated, increases the chance of a stroke and a heart attack.
Coronary heart disease typically begins in early adolescence but is rarely diagnosed until late in life usually after to a stroke or heart attack. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop the progression of Coronary heart disease and prevent a medical emergency.
Causes of Coronary Heart Disease include obesity, smoking, high blood, diabetes, and lack of physical activities, menopause in women, advance age (65 or older), and some types of infections of the artery walls. Males are more prone to this disease than women.
Symptoms leading to coronary heart disease may not always be easily readable and if you show any of the symptoms, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Some of the symptoms are chest, pain, shortness of breath, cyanosis (blue color under the finger nails and around the lips)
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prevention is always better then treatment, one should try and have regular check ups and follow the doctor’s advice. Knowing that you are at risk for a heart problem may save you from being faced with an emergency situation and possibly death.
Some of the things you can do to preventing coronary heart disease include decrease your cholesterol level, maintain your ideal body weight, maintain a healthy diet and exercise. Health is our most valuable possession, which often cannot be bought back once lost.
Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with coronary heart disease such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid, Oat Bran, Sytrinol, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Policosanol and Antioxidants.
Vitamin C has show to reduce cholesterol levels and lowers high blood pressure.
Vitamin E improves circulation and promotes normal blood clotting. Vitamin E is also known to help the red blood cells to live longer and keep them from breaking down too soon.
Studies of the Greenland Eskimos lack of heart attacks have show that Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid lowers blood cholesterol considerably, even more than polyunsaturated fat does. It also triggers a major drop in triglycerides.
Sytrinol are known to be useful in helping maintain a healthy cholesterol level in the body by reducing triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.
Oat bran muffins lower blood cholesterol among healthy college students by almost 10 percent.
Pantothenic Acid is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Niacin is the closest thing available to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You cannot live without it.
Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning.
Policosanol is a natural supplement derived from sugar cane. Policosanol promotes healthy platelet function and helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels in the human body.
Natural antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables such as, apples, blueberries, broccoli, cherries, cranberries, grapes, spinach, and Spirulina a blue-green algae.
Patients at risk for arteriosclerosis-related diseases are increasingly being treated prophylactically with low-dose aspirin.
Lifestyle changes can also lower the risk of medical emergencies do to arteriosclerosis. Quit smoking, eat healthy foods, weight loss and get regular exercise. This treatment is often problematic for many to achieve and continue for the long term.
If you are at risk from Congestive Heart Disease then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
By: David Cowley
About the Author:
Coronary heart disease typically begins in early adolescence but is rarely diagnosed until late in life usually after to a stroke or heart attack. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop the progression of Coronary heart disease and prevent a medical emergency.
Causes of Coronary Heart Disease include obesity, smoking, high blood, diabetes, and lack of physical activities, menopause in women, advance age (65 or older), and some types of infections of the artery walls. Males are more prone to this disease than women.
Symptoms leading to coronary heart disease may not always be easily readable and if you show any of the symptoms, seek medical advice as soon as possible. Some of the symptoms are chest, pain, shortness of breath, cyanosis (blue color under the finger nails and around the lips)
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Prevention is always better then treatment, one should try and have regular check ups and follow the doctor’s advice. Knowing that you are at risk for a heart problem may save you from being faced with an emergency situation and possibly death.
Some of the things you can do to preventing coronary heart disease include decrease your cholesterol level, maintain your ideal body weight, maintain a healthy diet and exercise. Health is our most valuable possession, which often cannot be bought back once lost.
Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with coronary heart disease such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid, Oat Bran, Sytrinol, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Policosanol and Antioxidants.
Vitamin C has show to reduce cholesterol levels and lowers high blood pressure.
Vitamin E improves circulation and promotes normal blood clotting. Vitamin E is also known to help the red blood cells to live longer and keep them from breaking down too soon.
Studies of the Greenland Eskimos lack of heart attacks have show that Eico-Sapentaenoic Acid lowers blood cholesterol considerably, even more than polyunsaturated fat does. It also triggers a major drop in triglycerides.
Sytrinol are known to be useful in helping maintain a healthy cholesterol level in the body by reducing triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.
Oat bran muffins lower blood cholesterol among healthy college students by almost 10 percent.
Pantothenic Acid is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Niacin is the closest thing available to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You cannot live without it.
Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning.
Policosanol is a natural supplement derived from sugar cane. Policosanol promotes healthy platelet function and helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels in the human body.
Natural antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables such as, apples, blueberries, broccoli, cherries, cranberries, grapes, spinach, and Spirulina a blue-green algae.
Patients at risk for arteriosclerosis-related diseases are increasingly being treated prophylactically with low-dose aspirin.
Lifestyle changes can also lower the risk of medical emergencies do to arteriosclerosis. Quit smoking, eat healthy foods, weight loss and get regular exercise. This treatment is often problematic for many to achieve and continue for the long term.
If you are at risk from Congestive Heart Disease then find a good health care professional prior to starting any type of home treatment.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.
By: David Cowley
About the Author:
David Cowley has created numerous articles on heart disease. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to heart disease and how to treat them. Click on Heart Treatment
This article is written to take some of the mystery (and hopefully, some of the fear) from the words, “heart disease.”
Although there are many different types of heart disease when someone mentions the words “heart disease” most people think of coronary heart disease first. Coronary heart disease is a “narrowing of the arteries that lead to the heart” however it is important to stress that coronary heart disease is only one form of heart disease.
Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common types of heart disease. In fact, it is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Heart disease affects both the structure of the heart and the functioning of it or sometimes both. A number of conditions fall under the category of heart disease and these include coronary heart disease (which takes into account heart attacks), heart failure, heart valve disease, abnormal heart rhythms (or arrhythmias), congenital heart disease, pericardial disease, aorta disease and Marfan syndrome, heart muscle disease (or cardiomyopathy), and vascular disease (blood vessel disease).
Coronary artery disease (or abbreviated to CAD) is another name for atherosclerosis or simply hardening of the arteries. It is the arteries that make it possible for nutrients and oxygen to make it to the heart. This is also one of the more common types of heart disease.
The average heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute in a steady even manner. This works out to be approximately 100,000 each and every day. However for reasons unknown to the medical community, sometimes the heart falls out of rhythm. This leads to an abnormal heartbeat or an irregular heartbeat, which is known as arrhythmia. Also known as a dysrhythmia, in this cause a change takes place to the rhythm of the heart, which can lead to a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow or uneven in how it beats. This is one of the more unusual types of heart disease.
The term “heart failure” is somewhat misleading. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has failed or that it has ceased to work properly. Instead it means that the pumping action of the heart is not as good as it should be. Heart failure affects an average of five million Americans every year and is the number one cause of hospitalization for individuals over the age of 65.
The heart has four chambers and heart valves lie at the exit of each one and allow one-way blood flow to make its way through the heart. Heart valve disease takes place when there is a problem with any one of these heart valves. Some examples of heart valve disease include aortic stenosis, mitral valve insufficiency and mitral valve prolapse.
Congenital heart disease is a problem that occurs before a baby is born and is a defect in the way the heart is structured or else in the structure of the blood vessels. Congenital heart disease sometimes does not show itself until a person is a child and in some cases, until they become an adult. Congenital heart defects affect an average of 8 out of every 1,000 babies born on an annual basis.
Cardiomyopathies are diseases that occur to affect the muscle of the heart. Generally this includes heart muscles that are enlarged or else have become stiff or thickened over a period of time. Heart muscle disease makes it difficult for the heart to adequately pump blood. If it is left untreated, a cardiomyopathy will get worse as time progresses and can very often lead to both heart failure as well as abnormal heart rhythms.
Pericarditis is a condition that involves the lining of the heart becoming inflamed. This is one of the more unusual types of heart disease. This condition is actually rather rare and is most often caused by one type of infection or another.
The aorta is the biggest artery in the heart and a number of conditions can cause it to either tear or to widen (or dilate). Thee include the genetic condition known as Marfan Syndrome, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, connective tissue disorders and injury. This is one of the types of heart disease that is somewhat rare.
By: Verlyn Ross
About the Author:
Although there are many different types of heart disease when someone mentions the words “heart disease” most people think of coronary heart disease first. Coronary heart disease is a “narrowing of the arteries that lead to the heart” however it is important to stress that coronary heart disease is only one form of heart disease.
Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common types of heart disease. In fact, it is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Heart disease affects both the structure of the heart and the functioning of it or sometimes both. A number of conditions fall under the category of heart disease and these include coronary heart disease (which takes into account heart attacks), heart failure, heart valve disease, abnormal heart rhythms (or arrhythmias), congenital heart disease, pericardial disease, aorta disease and Marfan syndrome, heart muscle disease (or cardiomyopathy), and vascular disease (blood vessel disease).
Coronary artery disease (or abbreviated to CAD) is another name for atherosclerosis or simply hardening of the arteries. It is the arteries that make it possible for nutrients and oxygen to make it to the heart. This is also one of the more common types of heart disease.
The average heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute in a steady even manner. This works out to be approximately 100,000 each and every day. However for reasons unknown to the medical community, sometimes the heart falls out of rhythm. This leads to an abnormal heartbeat or an irregular heartbeat, which is known as arrhythmia. Also known as a dysrhythmia, in this cause a change takes place to the rhythm of the heart, which can lead to a heartbeat that is too fast, too slow or uneven in how it beats. This is one of the more unusual types of heart disease.
The term “heart failure” is somewhat misleading. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has failed or that it has ceased to work properly. Instead it means that the pumping action of the heart is not as good as it should be. Heart failure affects an average of five million Americans every year and is the number one cause of hospitalization for individuals over the age of 65.
The heart has four chambers and heart valves lie at the exit of each one and allow one-way blood flow to make its way through the heart. Heart valve disease takes place when there is a problem with any one of these heart valves. Some examples of heart valve disease include aortic stenosis, mitral valve insufficiency and mitral valve prolapse.
Congenital heart disease is a problem that occurs before a baby is born and is a defect in the way the heart is structured or else in the structure of the blood vessels. Congenital heart disease sometimes does not show itself until a person is a child and in some cases, until they become an adult. Congenital heart defects affect an average of 8 out of every 1,000 babies born on an annual basis.
Cardiomyopathies are diseases that occur to affect the muscle of the heart. Generally this includes heart muscles that are enlarged or else have become stiff or thickened over a period of time. Heart muscle disease makes it difficult for the heart to adequately pump blood. If it is left untreated, a cardiomyopathy will get worse as time progresses and can very often lead to both heart failure as well as abnormal heart rhythms.
Pericarditis is a condition that involves the lining of the heart becoming inflamed. This is one of the more unusual types of heart disease. This condition is actually rather rare and is most often caused by one type of infection or another.
The aorta is the biggest artery in the heart and a number of conditions can cause it to either tear or to widen (or dilate). Thee include the genetic condition known as Marfan Syndrome, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, connective tissue disorders and injury. This is one of the types of heart disease that is somewhat rare.
By: Verlyn Ross
About the Author:
Verlyn Ross owns and operates a website dedicated specifically to providing health and fitness information. It includes a wealth of free articles in which you may have an interest. I invite you to access and freely explore my website.
Fame often divides among people. Famous people enjoy many privileges that others do not, but the privilege of avoiding heart disease is not one of them.
A famous person with heart disease faces the same risk factors as those who are not famous. A famous person with heart disease experiences the same symptoms, and can die of heart disease. The famous do not escape heart disease, known by physicians as coronary artery disease (CAD).
Examples of Famous People with Heart Disease
A famous person with heart disease who recently (March 2007) underwent triple heart bypass surgery is Regis Philbin well-known United States TV host. He had experienced typical heart disease symptoms such as chest pains and shortness of breath, despite having angioplasty 14 years ago. He joined a long list of famous people with heart disease. Here are a mere dozen of them.
* Bill Clinton - quadruple bypass surgery in 2004
* David Letterman - quadruple bypass surgery in 2000
* Larry King - heart attack and bypass surgery in 1987
* Mike Ditka - heart attack in 1988
* Tommy Lasorda - heart attack in 1996
* Dick Cheney - at least 4 heart attacks
* Phyllis Diller - heart attack in 1999
* Elizabeth Taylor - congestive heart failure
* Victoria Gotti - heart disease from age 16
* Ma Ji - died of heart disease in 2006
* Alfredo Di Stefano - heart attack in 2005
* Sir Ranulph Fiennes - heart attack and bypass surgery
Heart Disease Treatment
A famous person with heart disease may be able to afford the best treatment available. Every effort will likely be made not only to save their lives but to return them to the fullest possible health.
Advantages of Heart Disease in the Famous
A famous person with heart disease can be a highly-recognized spokesperson for companies that offer heart disease medications, diet plans, and other treatments aimed at reducing heart disease. It is said that immediately after a famous person has a heart attack or major heart surgery, hundreds of people schedule physical examinations - especially men.
The heart disease is not, of course, an advantageous experience for the famous person undergoing it. It can awaken them to their need for lifestyle changes, but other than that, it is just as excruciating for the famous as for those who have no claim to fame.
No One Is Invincible
Whether it is a famous person with heart disease or a person who is famous only to his or her family, no one is invincible. That may be one of the biggest lessons to be learned from hearing of yet another famous person with heart disease. Another big lesson is that we should all heed the multitude of warnings, and take action to prevent heart disease in ourselves and our loved ones.
By: Anna Hart
About the Author:
A famous person with heart disease faces the same risk factors as those who are not famous. A famous person with heart disease experiences the same symptoms, and can die of heart disease. The famous do not escape heart disease, known by physicians as coronary artery disease (CAD).
Examples of Famous People with Heart Disease
A famous person with heart disease who recently (March 2007) underwent triple heart bypass surgery is Regis Philbin well-known United States TV host. He had experienced typical heart disease symptoms such as chest pains and shortness of breath, despite having angioplasty 14 years ago. He joined a long list of famous people with heart disease. Here are a mere dozen of them.
* Bill Clinton - quadruple bypass surgery in 2004
* David Letterman - quadruple bypass surgery in 2000
* Larry King - heart attack and bypass surgery in 1987
* Mike Ditka - heart attack in 1988
* Tommy Lasorda - heart attack in 1996
* Dick Cheney - at least 4 heart attacks
* Phyllis Diller - heart attack in 1999
* Elizabeth Taylor - congestive heart failure
* Victoria Gotti - heart disease from age 16
* Ma Ji - died of heart disease in 2006
* Alfredo Di Stefano - heart attack in 2005
* Sir Ranulph Fiennes - heart attack and bypass surgery
Heart Disease Treatment
A famous person with heart disease may be able to afford the best treatment available. Every effort will likely be made not only to save their lives but to return them to the fullest possible health.
Advantages of Heart Disease in the Famous
A famous person with heart disease can be a highly-recognized spokesperson for companies that offer heart disease medications, diet plans, and other treatments aimed at reducing heart disease. It is said that immediately after a famous person has a heart attack or major heart surgery, hundreds of people schedule physical examinations - especially men.
The heart disease is not, of course, an advantageous experience for the famous person undergoing it. It can awaken them to their need for lifestyle changes, but other than that, it is just as excruciating for the famous as for those who have no claim to fame.
No One Is Invincible
Whether it is a famous person with heart disease or a person who is famous only to his or her family, no one is invincible. That may be one of the biggest lessons to be learned from hearing of yet another famous person with heart disease. Another big lesson is that we should all heed the multitude of warnings, and take action to prevent heart disease in ourselves and our loved ones.
By: Anna Hart
About the Author:
© 2007, Anna Hart. Anna is married to a man who suffers from heart disease, and brings to her writing years of experience and research. She invites you to read more of her articles about heart disease at http://www.your-heart-disease-blog.com. You won’t want to miss Anna’s insights and perspectives on coronary heart disease risk factors. Visit Anna now.
Ischemia is not a familiar term to many. This article is an attempt to explain it and to clarify it.
Ischemia is a form of coronary heart disease that occurs when fat deposits and plaque serve to narrow the interior of an artery to such a severe point that the heart is not able to receive enough oxygen-rich blood for its purposes and is therefore deprived. In as simple terms as possible, ischemia is a restriction in blood supply. What ends up happening is the heart muscle cramps. In this way then, ischemia that takes place in the heart is very much like getting a severe cramp in your leg, only cramping of the heart is more serious than cramping that occurs in the leg area.
Ischemia usually takes place when the heart is in need of an extra supply of oxygen. This is most likely to take place when there is a great deal of physical activity or exertion such as during weight training or practically any form of exercise, when a person is eating, when an individual is either very excited or under a great deal of stress and when a person is exposed to extreme temperatures, such as the very cold. Coronary artery disease can become so severe that ischemia can begin to take place even when a person is in a resting state.
Sometimes ischemia can be relieved quickly and easily and other times, or for some individuals it takes much longer. When it can be dealt with and gotten out of the way in a reasonably speedy span of time, such as within a 10 minute period with the help of either bed rest or medicine then it is sometimes given the name “stable coronary heart disease” or in other cases simply called, “stable angina.”
When blood vessels are blocked or become constricted due to ischemia what takes place is angina pectoris. This condition can occur for a number of reasons. It can take place as a result of tachycardia, which is an abnormally fast heartbeat, or due to thromboembolism, which are blood clots. Angina pectoris can also take place due to atherosclerosis, which is defined as “lipid-laden plaques obstructing the lumen of arteries”, and hypotension, which is the technical name for low blood pressure, which is likely to occur in cases of heart failure or septic shock.
But there are still other reasons why angina pectoris in relation to ischemia could take place. A tumor could cause outside compression or pressure on a blood vessel, which could bring about the problem. There could be foreign bodies in existence that could cause the problem, such as in the case of a pregnant woman, amniotic fluid that is in evidence within an amniotic fluid embolism. Finally angina pectoris could also occur as a result of sickle cell disease, which constitutes hemoglobin that is shaped abnormally.
Due to the fact that oxygen is connected to hemoglobin in all red blood cells, when there is an inadequate flow of blood the tissue then becomes hypoxic and in extreme cases, with no oxygen supply whatsoever, it becomes anoxic. A state of anoxic can lead to the death of cells, which is known as necrosis. When necrosis occurs as a result of ischemic it generally takes anywhere from 10 to 12 hours to occur.
By: Verlyn Ross
About the Author:
Ischemia is a form of coronary heart disease that occurs when fat deposits and plaque serve to narrow the interior of an artery to such a severe point that the heart is not able to receive enough oxygen-rich blood for its purposes and is therefore deprived. In as simple terms as possible, ischemia is a restriction in blood supply. What ends up happening is the heart muscle cramps. In this way then, ischemia that takes place in the heart is very much like getting a severe cramp in your leg, only cramping of the heart is more serious than cramping that occurs in the leg area.
Ischemia usually takes place when the heart is in need of an extra supply of oxygen. This is most likely to take place when there is a great deal of physical activity or exertion such as during weight training or practically any form of exercise, when a person is eating, when an individual is either very excited or under a great deal of stress and when a person is exposed to extreme temperatures, such as the very cold. Coronary artery disease can become so severe that ischemia can begin to take place even when a person is in a resting state.
Sometimes ischemia can be relieved quickly and easily and other times, or for some individuals it takes much longer. When it can be dealt with and gotten out of the way in a reasonably speedy span of time, such as within a 10 minute period with the help of either bed rest or medicine then it is sometimes given the name “stable coronary heart disease” or in other cases simply called, “stable angina.”
When blood vessels are blocked or become constricted due to ischemia what takes place is angina pectoris. This condition can occur for a number of reasons. It can take place as a result of tachycardia, which is an abnormally fast heartbeat, or due to thromboembolism, which are blood clots. Angina pectoris can also take place due to atherosclerosis, which is defined as “lipid-laden plaques obstructing the lumen of arteries”, and hypotension, which is the technical name for low blood pressure, which is likely to occur in cases of heart failure or septic shock.
But there are still other reasons why angina pectoris in relation to ischemia could take place. A tumor could cause outside compression or pressure on a blood vessel, which could bring about the problem. There could be foreign bodies in existence that could cause the problem, such as in the case of a pregnant woman, amniotic fluid that is in evidence within an amniotic fluid embolism. Finally angina pectoris could also occur as a result of sickle cell disease, which constitutes hemoglobin that is shaped abnormally.
Due to the fact that oxygen is connected to hemoglobin in all red blood cells, when there is an inadequate flow of blood the tissue then becomes hypoxic and in extreme cases, with no oxygen supply whatsoever, it becomes anoxic. A state of anoxic can lead to the death of cells, which is known as necrosis. When necrosis occurs as a result of ischemic it generally takes anywhere from 10 to 12 hours to occur.
By: Verlyn Ross
About the Author:
Verlyn Ross owns and operates a website dedicated specifically to providing health and fitness information. It includes a wealth of free articles in which you may have an interest. I invite you to freely explore my website.
Many of the risk factors for heart disease are related to lifestyle and environmental factors and are typically labeled uncontrollable (non-modifiable) or controllable (modifiable). These can be conditions, personal traits and lifestyles that contribute to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which causes coronary artery disease.
The seriousness of this disease can be seen in the fact that over 40% of all people in the United States who suffer a heart attack will die from its affects.
Heart disease, which is a term that includes several more specific heart conditions, is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The major forms of this most deadly of diseases include acute rheumatic fever, chronic rheumatic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, congestive heart failure and any other heart condition or disease.
It is, in simplistic terms, the inability of the heart to pump or receive adequate amounts of blood due to atherosclerosis or damage to the heart caused by infection or congenital defects. In fact heart disease and stroke both have the same risk factors and causes.
An estimated 25% of all Americans have one or more risk factors, increasing their risk for heart attack. Most risk factors are related to lifestyle while other risk factors that cannot be changed include age, gender, and genetics.
Health behaviors associated with a high risk include being physically inactive, eating a diet high in salt and saturated fat, and smoking tobacco. While you can’t control your age, gender, race, or family history, you can decrease your chances of developing this disease by focusing on the lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health.
Leading a healthy lifestyle and following medical advice to reduce or remove risk factors is the best way to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Although it takes on different specific forms, there are a common core of risk factors that influence whether someone will ultimately be at risk for or not.
There are many factors that can increase your risk of getting heart disease. Some of these factors are out of your control but most of them can be avoided by choosing to live a healthy lifestyle. Excess body fat is one of the greatest risk factors. Cholesterol levels are determined by a combination of age, gender, heredity, and dietary choices, and of these four factors, changing your diet to a healthier one is something you can do something about. High blood pressure combined with other risk factors such as being physically inactive, eating a diet high in salt and saturated fat, and smoking tobacco greatly increases your chances of getting heart disease as well. In some cases other factors such as stress and drinking too much alcohol have been linked to cardiovascular disease.
Fortunately, many risk factors for heart disease are caused in part by unhealthy lifestyle habits, which can be altered so as to reduce one’s chances of developing this deadly disease.
By: Andrew Bicknell
About the Author:
The seriousness of this disease can be seen in the fact that over 40% of all people in the United States who suffer a heart attack will die from its affects.
Heart disease, which is a term that includes several more specific heart conditions, is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The major forms of this most deadly of diseases include acute rheumatic fever, chronic rheumatic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, congestive heart failure and any other heart condition or disease.
It is, in simplistic terms, the inability of the heart to pump or receive adequate amounts of blood due to atherosclerosis or damage to the heart caused by infection or congenital defects. In fact heart disease and stroke both have the same risk factors and causes.
An estimated 25% of all Americans have one or more risk factors, increasing their risk for heart attack. Most risk factors are related to lifestyle while other risk factors that cannot be changed include age, gender, and genetics.
Health behaviors associated with a high risk include being physically inactive, eating a diet high in salt and saturated fat, and smoking tobacco. While you can’t control your age, gender, race, or family history, you can decrease your chances of developing this disease by focusing on the lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health.
Leading a healthy lifestyle and following medical advice to reduce or remove risk factors is the best way to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Although it takes on different specific forms, there are a common core of risk factors that influence whether someone will ultimately be at risk for or not.
There are many factors that can increase your risk of getting heart disease. Some of these factors are out of your control but most of them can be avoided by choosing to live a healthy lifestyle. Excess body fat is one of the greatest risk factors. Cholesterol levels are determined by a combination of age, gender, heredity, and dietary choices, and of these four factors, changing your diet to a healthier one is something you can do something about. High blood pressure combined with other risk factors such as being physically inactive, eating a diet high in salt and saturated fat, and smoking tobacco greatly increases your chances of getting heart disease as well. In some cases other factors such as stress and drinking too much alcohol have been linked to cardiovascular disease.
Fortunately, many risk factors for heart disease are caused in part by unhealthy lifestyle habits, which can be altered so as to reduce one’s chances of developing this deadly disease.
By: Andrew Bicknell
About the Author:
To learn more about preventing heart disease please visit the website Heart Disease by clicking here.
