Warning Signs & Causes of Heart Disease or Coronary Disease

Heart coronary disease is caused by fatty deposits in the blood arteries, high blood pressure, and some other factors. You should know the risk factors of heart disease and reduce the risk of heart attack.

What Causes Heart Disease

Heart disease or coronary heart disease results when plaque (a fibrous tissue) builds up inside the arterial walls, which causes a partial or complete obstruction of blood flow. The effect of this is less oxygen carrying blood to heart and may result in angina. Angina is a sensation of discomfort, pain, burning or pressure which is generally felt in the chest area and may propagate to the arms or neck.

Angina may be the first indication of heart disease. But many people with heart disease often get no warning signals, until they suffer a full heart attack. Chest pain should not been ignored, even when it is not permanent.

During a heart attack, the supply of oxygen to heart is cut off, resulting in tissue death for a part of the heart muscle.

More than 2500 people die daily from heart disease.

Heart Disease & Neck, Thighs & Waist Size

Besides ballooned waistlines, a fat neck may also signal possible trouble for the heart. It is found that that for every 3cm increase in neck size, men (average neck size 40.5cm) can have their HDL (good cholesterol) reduced by 2.2 mg/dl and women (average neck size 34.2cm) by 2.7mg/dl. The neck size, however, does not affect LDL cholesterol.

The neck size also affects the blood sugar levels; for every 3cm more of neck men had 3.0mg/dl more and women 2.1mg/dl.
The study says that even those with relatively trim waistlines appeared to be at greater risk if they had larger necks.

Women who measure 35 inch around their waist are at high risk or already have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or diabetes. Talk to your doctor, make some lifestyle changes and get heart healthy. The waist size and the waist to hip raio is very important for the heart.

The size of thighs is also important for the health of heart. "The thinner your thighs, the greater your risk of heart disease," reports a study published in British Medical Journal on 4 Sept 2009. However, fat thighs above 60 cm in circumference are not good for heart.

To reduce the risk of Heart attack you should reduce major cardiovascular risk factors.
(Source: Dr. Charles H. Hennekens, Harvard Medical School)

1. Stop Smoking Smoking cessation can decrease heart attack risk by 50-70%.
2. Watch Your Body Weight Maintenance of ideal body weight can decrease heart attack risk by 35-55%.
3. Reduce Blood Cholesterol: A 10% reduction of total cholesterol can decrease heart attack risk by 20-30%.
4. Monitor Your Diabetes: Heart disease is the leading cause of death among people with diabetes. According to the American Heart Association, 65% of patients with diabetes die from cardiovascular disease. Keeping diabetes under check is a must, Blood sugar level during fasting must ideally be 70-110 mg/dl. To keep protect yourself from diabete, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and maintain a healthy weight.
5. Exercise Regularly Regular exercise can decrease heart attack risk by 35-55%. Exercise at least 5 days a week for 40 minutes or a brisk 5 kilometer walk every day helps decrease heart ailments by 20%. Walking is the best medicine for a healthy heart as it increases blood circulation.
6. Reduce Blood Pressure 6 point decrease in diastolic blood pressure can decrease heart attack risk by 16%.
7. Sleep Well A good sleep reduces mental stress and stabilzes heart rate.
8. Manage stress. Avoid stress over a long period.
9. Eat a healthy diet A healthy diet including vegetables and fruits providing vitamins, minerals, fibers and anti-oxidants can help you lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, prevent obesity, heart disease and strokes.
10. Cold drink/water during a meal It is very harmful to have cold drink/water during a meal because the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have consumed. It will slow down the digestion. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Heart Attack Warning signs.

All Cholesterol Articles | High Triglycerides | Lower Cholesterol | Cholesterol levels | Cholesterol Ratio | Cholesterol Units | Raise HDL Cholesterol | Cholesterol Free Foods | Low Cholesterol Diet | Psyllium husk benefits, cholesterol lowering recipes | Foods to lower cholesterol | Foods High in Omega 3 | Cooking Oil | Oats, Oat Bran, Quaker Oats | Blood pressure chart | High blood pressure diet | Cholesterol in Cheese | Cholesterol in eggs | Cholesterol in chicken | Cholesterol content of fish | Cholesterol in French fries | Cholesterol in meat | Cholesterol in scallops,crab,lobster, oyster,clams | Cholesterol in Cheese | Cholesterol in milk | Cholesterol in oils