Health for Self Newsletter

The heart is a simple pump that drives blood throughout your body to other organs and tissues.   Heart disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States.  Those who are at the highest risk for heart disease include individuals with a strong family history, high cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, a history of smoking, and peripheral vascular disease.   Any combination of these factors will place a person at a very high risk for heart disease.

Coronary artery disease (heart disease) occurs when plagues form in your coronary arteries.  These plaques can cause two things.  One, they can cause blockages in the flow of blood to your heart muscle.  Two, the plaques can rupture causing either a stroke or cause a thrombus to form which will lead to blockage of blood to your heart tissue (an acute myocardial infarction or heart attack.

In order to prevent heart disease, people should make a strong effort to reduce all the risks listed above. Risk such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure can be reduced with a healthy diet and exercise for the most part.   A low weight and a healthy lifestyle can certainly reduce the risk of getting type II diabetes which will further decrease the risk for heart disease.

As always, consult your physician in regards to any questions you have regarding heart disease and a change in diet and exercise.