Heart Disease

About Heart Disease:

Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in the United States, as well as other countries. It is also a primary cause of disability. Over half a million people die of heart disease in the US every year, which equates to just over 25% of all US deaths. There are several different forms of heart disease, including coronary, ischaemic, cardiovascular and pulmonary. Coronary heart disease is the most common, and can lead to a heart attack. There are several preventative measures that can be taken to ward off potential heart disease.

It is alarming how fast heart disease is growing in the world. People have a more sedentary lifestyle sitting behind computers doing their job. (I'm behind a computer, but I PROMISE I'm exercising when I finish...) New medications have led folks to rely on these instead of regular prevention, like diet and exercise which reduces your risk.

Many cases of heart disease could be avoided if people just added a simple program into their lives. Heart disease is caused by high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which can be combated with exercise and nutrition. By exercising, our bodies create more of the GOOD cholesterol. The more GOOD cholesterol we have, the more of the BAD cholesterol is moved to our liver and removed.

As we exercise, we workout our heart, which is a muscle, so the more it works, the stronger it will be. It works to pump blood through our arteries and vessels and make them stronger and more pliable. Then there is less chance that blockages will happen and lead to heart disease and even heart attacks. An exercise program will help you have a healthy heart but it will also help keep you at a healthy weight, being overweight, is NOT healthy.

The more weight, the farther your blood has to travel. (Fat is filled with blood vessels) So the farther your blood travels, the more your heart works, the higher the chance that a blockage will happen. So, fat loss is a major part of your battle against heart disease.

We KNOW exercise will reduce the risk of heart disease, but many of us don't do it. Why? We have no PLAN. A plan will help us make sure that exercise is a part of our life. Perhaps we need a trainer. Perhaps we need to get information off the net. But develop a program that involves physical activity and make it part of your DAILY life.

If you want to be around for many more years, this is a VITAL tip for you to use. Take action TODAY, because as we get older, heart disease is ALWAYS looming. With the right plan you can fight it and you CAN win.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD):

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most prevalent form of heart disease. CHD occurs when plaque builds up on the walls of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. These arteries become shriveled, hardened and narrow—a process that leads to atherosclerosis. With atherosclerosis, blood flow and oxygen supply can be restricted or even entirely blocked by fatty plaques (made up of cholesterol and other lipids.) These plaques can also rupture to form blood clots that can block arteries. CHD can lead to heart attack and/or angina, which is chest pain and discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle isn’t getting enough blood.

Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD):

Ischaemic heart disease, also known as myocardial ischaemia, is another deadly form of heart disease occurring mostly in Western countries. It is also caused by atherosclerosis. Its risks increase with age, smoking, poor diet, high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension. It is more common among men than women, and is commonly associated with genetics. Prevention of IHD usually involves improving the diet and taking medication for diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Cardiovascular Heart Disease:

Cardiovascular heart disease is the umbrella term for describing those diseases associated with the heart or blood vessels. It also refers to diseases related to atherosclerosis. These conditions often have similar causes, mechanisms, and treatments. Studies have shown that vascular injury can accumulate starting in adolescence, but it is hard to detect at this stage. Usually, by the time symptoms present themselves, atherosclerosis is quite advanced. Treatment usually involves lifestyle change, including exercise, proper diet and an avoidance of smoking.

Pulmonary Heart Disease:

Pulmonary heart disease (also known as cor pulmonale) is a malfunctioning of the right ventricle of the heart as a result of respiratory disorder. Right ventricular pressure occurs and as a result, causes right ventricular hypertrophy (when blood has difficulty flowing from the heart to the lungs) or, in acute cases, dilation (stretching of the ventricle due to increased pressure.) Pulmonary heart disease originates in the pulmonary circulation system, with the two major causes being vascular changes as a result of tissue damage (hypoxic injury, chemical agents, etc.) and chronic pulmonary vasoconstriction (when arteries constrict due to low oxygen levels.)