What is Heart Disease?
Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle (the coronary arteries) become hardened and narrowed due to buildup of a material called plaque on their inner walls.
The buildup of plaque is known as atherosclerosis. As the plaque increases in size, the insides of the coronary arteries get narrower and less blood can flow through them. Eventually, blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced, and, because blood carries much-needed oxygen, the heart muscle is not able to receive the amount of oxygen it needs. Reduced or cutoff blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart muscle can result in:
Know Your Risk Factors
Heart disease can affect anyone and still remains the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Unfortunately, for most people heart attacks and other types of heart disease often occur without warning. This is why heart disease is often referred to as a silent killer. Often times, people have symptoms but don't realize these symptoms indicate heart disease.
There are many risk factors for heart disease. Some of these risk factors include:
- Family History of Heart Disease
- High Cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- Smoking history
- Diabetes
- Overweight
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Age: men over 45 and women over 55 (younger individuals with one or more risk factors may also be considered)
Altering an unhealthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of a heart attack. Achieving and maintaining a reasonable body weight can help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels. Maintaining an appropriate weight can also improve health by decreasing the risk for diabetes and gallbladder disease.