Heart disease is the leading killer in the U.S. It is a general term that includes coronary heart disease and other heart conditions that can lead to serious results like heart attacks and strokes. Fortunately, in many cases, there are many ways to prevent heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease accounted for 28 percent of all deaths in the U.S. in 2003; 51% of the deaths were women.
Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, which occurs when the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, become hardened and narrowed because of plaque build-up. This plaque build-up and the narrowing and hardening of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. Plaques are a mixture of fatty substances including cholesterol and other lipids. Plaques in the arteries can inhibit—even block--proper blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart; plaques may also rupture and cause blood clots that block arteries. Magazines like Health, Prevention and Men’s Health are great sources of information on understanding the basics of heart disease.
Coronary heart disease can lead to a heart attack and angina, which is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle is not getting enough blood. Over time, coronary heart disease can weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure. Also, irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias, can develop. Angina is the most common symptom of coronary heart disease. Read medical magazines like Consumer Reports Health, Diabetic Living and Prevention for more information on symptoms.
It is important to know your risk factors to prevent a heart attack. It is important to see your doctor regarding your risk factors such as blood pressure, blood cholesterol and glucose, history of heart disease and other factors. Your doctor can perform several tests to assess your coronary heart disease risk factors and symptoms.
The most common and preventable risk factors for coronary heart disease are high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. To prevent these risk factors maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise and eating a healthful diet are of the utmost importance.
Because coronary heart disease is so prevalent in U.S. society many health magazines now regularly cover heart disease prevention and tips frequently. Some of these health magazines are Health, Prevention, Men’s Health and Women’s Health.
Your doctor and other healthcare professionals can help you determine your healthy weight, which is determined by using weight and height to compute a measurement called body mass index or BMI. A healthy diet means eating foods low in saturated fats and cholesterol and high in fiber. Other lifestyle choices like not using tobacco products, moderately using alcohol and getting your blood pressure checked regularly also help prevent coronary heart disease.
