Coronary Heart Disease - Your Heart Is Your Responsibility

In the world of disease, there is none as dangerous to the American population as coronary heart disease. Claiming nearly a million lives annually, coronary heart disease is responsible for more deaths than the next seven causes of non-violent death combined. Controlling and preventing heart disease deserves the full attention of both the US medical community, and of every individual American. Is there anything you can do to reduce your won chances of developing coronary heart disease?

Because coronary heart disease is the result of atherosclerosis, or the build up fatty plaque on the arterial walls, narrowing them and limiting or blocking the flow of blood to the heart, keeping the arteries free of plaque is essential to preventing coronary heart disease.

There are factors which can increase your risk of coronary heart disease; it is hereditary, and if someone in your family developed it, especially before they reached fifty, your chances of developing it are higher than normal.

Your risk will also increase if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, are obese or do not get adequate exercise, or have too much bad cholesterol and too little good cholesterol. Post-menopausal women are at greater risk for coronary heart disease than pre-menopausal ones.

The primary weapons in the battle against developing coronary heart disease are diet and exercise, and elimination of tobacco use. Saturated fats and trans fats common in red meats and fried and processed foods are big contributors to clogged arteries; replace at least fifty percent of the red meat you eat with fish--especially wild salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel.

Grill or roast foods instead of frying them, and replace the processed snacks with fresh fruit and vegetables. Blueberries are showing exceptional promise in ridding the body of bad LDL cholesterol. Controlling your salt intake will help lower your blood pressure, and decrease your risk of developing coronary heart disease.

If you dont exercise regularly, you are inviting coronary heart disease. You dont need to start training for marathons; just add a little activity where you can so that you are up and moving for at least thirty minutes each day. Start planning daily walks; climb stairs whenever you can; park at the furthest end of the parking lot at work. If you go to the mall, park as far as you can from the stores in which you intend to shop.

For those in whom coronary heart disease has already developed, medication and surgery may be indicated. Angioplasty to clear blocked arteries by implanting them with inflatable balloons is quite common; but in very serious cases of coronary heart disease, heart bypass surgery may be necessary.

You can also find more info on Congenital Heart Disease and Congestive Heart Disease. Treatheartdiseasehelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Heart Diseases.

Building A Family Room Addition
Roofing Room Additions