About Heart Disease

Mishy asked:


One of the main reasons I became vegan was because of the book “The China Study,” and because of my family’s terrible history of heart disease. Our livers just make too much cholesterol on their own, etc. etc. I have scrawny 10 year old cousins with astronomical cholesterol etc…..

So I just was curious if anyone out there knew pretty strict vegans who were unlucky enough to “still” get cancer and/or heart disease that would cause heart attacks, angina, etc.

Thanks!!! Been vegan 95% of the time since Nov 06 and I love it! I’m Punjabi, which helps, because the ability to eat really spicy Punjabi, Indian, Pakistani, and Thai food makes you never ever ever miss all that meat, dairy, etc.! I love it and feel great!

Steve

Anna Hart asked:


Congestive heart disease is a physical disorder in which the heart no longer pumps hard enough. Since the heart pumps weakly, blood can back up into the lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and extremities.

Congestive heart disease is also called congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac failure, or heart failure. These names can be misleading, since they seem to indicate that the heart has totally failed and that death is imminent. This is not the case. Congestive heart disease is nearly always a chronic, long-term condition, although it does sometimes develop suddenly.

How Common Is Congestive Heart Disease?

Of 100 people between the ages of 27 and 74, approximately 2 have congestive heart disease. That means about 6 million people in the U.S. are affected by the disease. After age 74, congestive heart disease becomes more common. It is said to be the leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens.

Causes of Congestive Heart Disease

Congestive heart disease has many causes. They include, but are not limited to, the following causes:

* Weakening of the heart muscle due to viral infections. The weakness may also be caused by toxins such as alcohol abuse.
* Weakening of the heart muscle by coronary artery disease that has led to heart attacks.
* Weakening of the heart muscle by heart valve disease that involves large amounts of blood leakage.
* Heart muscle stiffness caused by a blocked heart valve.
* Uncontrolled high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
* High levels of the thyroid hormone.
* Excessive use of amphetamines (”speed”).

Symptoms of Congestive Heart Disease

Either side of the heart muscle may weaken and cause congestive heart disease. The symptoms of congestive heart disease depend on the side of the heart that is affected. They can include these:

* asthma that can be attributed to the heart
* blood pooling in the body’s overall circulation
* blood pooling in the liver’s circulation
* enlargement of the heart
* shortness of breath
* skin color that appears bluish or dusky
* swelling of the body, especially the extremities

Congestive Heart Disease Risk Factors

As is true with most heart disease, family history is a major risk factor for congestive heart disease. Genetics cannot easily be altered. Age is a second risk factor that cannot be changed. Congestive heart disease is particularly prevalent among older people.

Aside from those two, however, risk factors can and should be addressed. Here are 7 risk factors for congestive heart disease that you may want to discuss with your health care provider.

1. High blood pressure: This is the highest risk factor for congestive heart disease! Men with uncontrolled high blood pressure are twice as likely as those with normal blood pressure to suffer congestive heart disease. If a woman has uncontrolled high blood pressure, she is three times as likely as women with normal blood pressure to develop congestive heart disease.

2. Heart Attacks: This is the second highest risk factor for congestive heart disease. Those who have had heart attacks that resulted in damage to the heart muscle, and scarring of the muscle tissue, have increased risks of experiencing congestive heart disease.

3. High Cholesterol: Showing high levels of cholesterol, particularly when levels of HDL are low, is listed as another risk factor for congestive heart disease.

4. Diabetes: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are risk factors for developing congestive heart disease.

5. Obesity: Men and women who are overweight unnecessarily increase their risks of experiencing congestive heart disease. The heart must work harder when the body is not at a healthy weight, and can begin to lose its ability to deliver blood efficiently.

6. Prolonged Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle, with little exercise, puts people at risk for congestive heart disease, especially as they increase in age. The heart needs cardiovascular exercise to remain strong and able to function well.

7. Smoking: Smoking increases the heart’s workload. It also affects the lungs. This is a risk for congestive heart disease that anyone can eliminate.

CAUTION: Please see your doctor if you have reason to think you may have one or more of the risk factors or symptoms of congestive heart disease. The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only.

Lisa

Razzi R asked:


What really causes coronary heart disease?

Ancel Keys’s research has ZERO scientific validity as he LEFT OUT data available from 22 other that CONTRADICTED his theory. Also his false theory was an epidemiological study - which is the LOWEST of the low and is not good enough.

Most importantly there has not been one tightly controlled clinical intervention trial that has ever shown saturate dfat to increase CJHD mortality or incidence.

So what REALLY CAUSES CHD?

Erin

Anna Hart asked:


If your family history includes coronary heart disease, you are wise to look at ways to reduce your risk for heart disease. Coronary heart disease although affected by genetic makeup, is also related to your lifestyle.

Think of the more common risk factors for coronary heart disease:

* Cigarette smoking - a lifestyle choice

* Elevated cholesterol - in part, a lifestyle choice

* High blood pressure - affected by life choices

* Obesity - resulting from lifestyle choices

* Prolonged periods of inactivity - a lifestyle choice

You probably know that changes to your lifestyle can readily reduce the risk for heart disease. Such changes do not require a physician’s help, although you will want to seek your physician’s advice. Nor do actions to reduce the risks of heart disease require participation in a program.

A report in the “American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine” for March/April 2007; 1(2): 79-90 called for practical steps doctors could take to help you change your lifestyle. That report states that most individuals who change lifestyle do it without any program, and gives these examples:

* “…more than 90% of individuals who have stopped smoking have done this without a formal smoking cessation program.”

* “The majority of individuals who lose weight also do this on their own.”

You can make lifestyle changes that will reduce heart disease risks.

Reduce Heart Disease Risks with These Steps

You can reduce the risk for heart disease by making a few changes in your current lifestyle.

1. Chocolate First

Can eating chocolate reduce the risk for heart disease? You have heard reports of it on television. You may have heard it discussed at the office. Is it true?

In 1996, University of California-Davis researcher Andrew Waterhouse found that chocolate contains phenols, chemicals that might reduce heart disease risks. Waterhouse wrote about his findings in the British medical journal Lancet, telling how he had used laboratory experiments to measure the amount of phenols in such products as baker’s chocolate, cocoa powder, and milk chocolate. He found that it took less than 2 ounces of milk chocolate to provide the same amount of phenols as a 5-ounce glass of red wine, which was already known for reducing heart disease risks. He reasoned that not only can eating chocolate reduce the risk for heart disease, but that more research would show that it actually does.

In 2003, Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and his colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany published a further report on chocolate in the Aug. 27 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. Dark chocolate, they found, lowers high blood pressure and reduces that risk associated with heart disease. They had done clinical research to show the effects in humans. Milk chocolate and white chocolate did not have this effect. Milk, whether blended into the chocolate or used to wash down the chocolate, diluted the effect.

Why dark chocolate? The answer is the phenols that Waterhouse discovered in chocolate back in 1996. Cocoa phenols are known to lower blood pressure.

In addition, phenols lower the risk of heart disease by keeping fat-like substances from oxidizing in the bloodstream and clogging the arteries.

So can eating chocolate reduce the risk for heart disease?

It can reduce some risks - if it is dark chocolate - the darker the better - and is not washed down with milk. European made chocolates appear to be better than American made, since they contain more cocoa phenols.

2. Smoking

Another lifestyle change that can reduce the risk of heart disease is to stop smoking. Those who say they can’t stop smoking have not been determined or committed enough. As quoted above from the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, ” more than 90% of individuals who have stopped smoking have done this without a formal smoking cessation program.”

If you are serious about reducing heart disease risks, stop smoking.

3. Obesity

Overweight sounds nicer than obesity, but whichever way you look at it in the mirror, it is a lifestyle change you can make to reduce heart disease risks. You don’t need to join one of the many programs advertised on television, or ask your doctor for prescription medication. You need to change your way of eating and get exercise.

4. Exercise

While the industrial age, followed by the information age, brought us many benefits, they also took away the benefits of farm work. A great number of us have developed a sedentary lifestyle that increases heart disease risks. To reverse that, and reduce the risks of heart disease, we need to follow a regular exercise program.

5. Cholesterol

Your genetic makeup may predispose you to higher levels of cholesterol. To reduce this risk of heart disease, you can change your diet to one of the many that reduce cholesterol intake.

Conclusion

There are other risks for heart disease, but these are examples of those that can be reduced by making simple changes in the way you live. Can they be eradicated without medication? Sometimes they can. Can they become less of a risk for heart disease without medication? Yes. It certainly is worth making the necessary changes.

CAUTION: The author is not a medical professional, and offers the information in this article for educational purposes only. Please discuss it with your health care provider before relying on it in any way.

Charlie

Anna Hart asked:


Heart disease prevention is of prime importance in the United States, since heart disease is our leading cause of death. It is also a major cause of disability, costing many people their jobs and their freedom.

Heart disease prevention becomes especially important as you age. Men who have passed age 45, and women who have passed age 55, are at far greater risk than younger people. If you have a family history of heart disease, your risks increase again. If you are genetically predisposed to build-ups of cholesterol deposits, the risks are even greater.

All of this sounds like a losing battle, but there are things you can do. Heart disease prevention measures can be taken.

Heart Disease Prevention Tips

There are no guarantees when it comes to heart disease, but if you follow the tips below, you will be doing much to reduce your risks of dying from this disease. This information is for educational purposes only, however, and the reader should seek advice from a medical professional.

1. Weight: You have no doubt heard that you should maintain a healthy weight as a matter of heart disease prevention. Excess weight causes the heart to work harder, putting stress on this vital muscle. It is important to learn what a healthy weight is, given your height, age, and gender. Then take steps to reach and maintain that weight. The weight loss business is huge in America, so you will find plenty of help. Ask your doctor for advice before you begin a diet, though.

2. Exercise: The second most common means of heart disease prevention is physical exercise. The heart is a muscle. As such, it can be strengthened through regular exercise. Exercise should be guided by your health care provider, but it should not be avoided unless other medical concerns prevent it. Exercise will send vital, health-giving oxygen to your heart. You should have regular exercise each day, walking or jogging if possible. In addition, train yourself to park farther from the door; take stairs instead of elevators and escalators; get off the bus one or two stops before you must, and walk the last few blocks. Heart disease prevention can often be a matter of changing a few habits.

3. Smoking: If you smoke tobacco, you should stop immediately. This relatively easy form of heart disease prevention can be done readily. Although many people claim addiction requiring medical intervention, studies show that 90% of those who quit smoking do it on their own, without medical help. I have personally seen individuals make a single decision, and never smoke again.

4. Healthy Eating: If you name this form of heart disease prevention a diet, chances are you will rebel inwardly. Nobody likes to diet. You should, however, adopt a healthy way of eating. Load the menu with fresh fruits and vegetables, leaving less room for fatty meats and sweets. Avoid junk foods like potato chips and corn chips. Refuse the candy bars, and have a health bar instead.

5. Blood Pressure: Many people find that they have elevated blood pressure levels as they get older. It is important to find out what your blood pressure is, and take any steps necessary to get it under control and keep it there. High blood pressure creates another unnecessary demand on your heart. Your physician may prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure. In addition, you may want to increase your potassium intake, lose weight, and exercise. Normal blood pressure is important to heart disease prevention.

6. Diabetes: Ask your physician to test you for diabetes. Diabetes also is a risk for heart disease, but it can be controlled. If you have it, follow your doctor’s advice in every way. Diabetes greatly increases your risks of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

7. Cholesterol: It is widely accepted in medical circles that high cholesterol levels, especially high LDL cholesterol levels, put you at further risk for heart disease. Cholesterol levels can be reduced. Your physician may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering drug. In addition, you will want to do your part for heart disease prevention. When shopping, choose low fat dairy products and cheese instead of richer options. Trim the fat from meat before you cook it. If it isn’t on your plate, you will not eat it.

These 7 heart disease prevention steps can make a big difference in your life. They may, in fact, extend your life. Discuss them with your doctor, and enlist your family’s support in following them.

Bonnie

Cindy Heller asked:


There are many types of heart disease, but this article will explore five types of heart disease that are common to happen. Hopefully, this article can add your knowledge concerning this leading cause of death disease.

#1 congenital heart disease

There is a fallacy of thinking that many people do when they believe that all heart disease is brought about by outside factors or that it needs some periods of time for heart disease to build up. This is, of course, not true as one of the most common types of heart disease is congenital heart disease.

The term congenital or hereditary heart disease refers to heart disease which is passed down through the family, and this is considered as being a congenital type of heart disease as it is principally inevitable and unpreventable. If you have an account of early heart disease in your family then you also are at danger for congenital heart disease.

The most first-degree family members that you have who have endured from heart disease, such as your mother, father, brother, sister and so on, in particular those who experienced it at a younger age, the higher your risk of getting it as well.

Although congenital heart disease can be caused by many factors, some of them are actually preventable. For example if heart disease is clustering in your family, then it may just be because of the way that your family lives, including unhealthy practices such as poor diet, little or no exercise, and smoking. All of these aspects can contribute to heart disease and can create the sequence of congenital heart disease.

# 2 congestive heart failure

Congestive heart failure is when the heart does not pump adequate blood to the other organs in the body. Congestive heart failure can often result from heart disease and constricted arteries. Congestive heart failure results in a heart which works a lot less efficiently than it should and can make further problems. Symptoms regularly consist of swelling and edema, shortness of breath, and kidney problems which in turn can lead to mysterious weight gain. Even elevated blood pressure and alcohol abuse can lead to congestive heart failure.

A patient may be examined for congestive heart failure if they have suffered from heart disease in the past, are alcoholic, have a family history of heart problems or show one or all of the symptoms that are caused by congestive heart failure. There are choices of examinations that aid a doctor in diagnosing this heart crisis. Treatment should begin without delay, starting with changes to diet and exercise, as patients should abolish salt from the diet altogether and sternly limit their fluid intake. Further treatment should be done by a professional.

#3 coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease is the most frequent type of heart disease of all, and is also the leading reason of heart attacks. Coronary heart disease is a term that refers to damage to the heart that happens because its blood supply is decreased, and what happens here is that fatty deposits build up on the linings of the blood vessels that provide the heart muscles with blood, resulting in them narrowing. This narrowing decreases the blood supply to the heart muscles and causes pain that is identified as angina.

There are a few factors which are considered as being responsible causes of coronary heart disease. One in particular is high cholesterol that can increase fat concentration in your blood and create the building up of fatty deposits. Another one of the major factors of coronary heart disease is cigarette and tobacco smoke, as a smoker’s risk of getting heart disease is two times that of a nonsmoker, and studies have actually revealed that after five years of quitting smoking, the risk of developing heart disease is the same as that of someone who had never smoked in their life.

#4 pulmonary heart disease

Pulmonary heart disease is heart disease that comes from a lung, or pulmonary, disorder, or a complication of lung problems where the blood flow into the lungs is slowed or even totally blocked, resulting in increased pressure on the lungs. There are a number of different symptoms that typically come with pulmonary heart disease, such as shortness of breath, syncope, dyspnoea, and chest pain.

It is a state which is often misdiagnosed, and has frequently progressed to late stages by the time that it is actually correctly diagnosed. It has been previously chronic and untreatable with a poor survival rate. However, there are now numerous new treatments which are accessible which have extensively improved the overall prognosis of this disease.

#5 rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease frequently derives from strep throat infections. This can be a reason for alarm for many because strep throat, while often preventable, is a quite common condition that affects many people who do not treat a minor sore throat infection in time. However, there is no reason to be because rheumatic heart disease that comes from strep throat is fairly rare. Actually, the sheer volume of cases of rheumatic heart disease has decreased considerably since the 1960’s.

If rheumatic fever, which happens due to chronic strep throat, is contracted and leads to rheumatic heart disease, the situation can be treated in a way that is much easier than the common treatments for other types of heart disease. This treatment usually involves taking cortisteroid anti-inflammatory medication to reverse any possible cardiac problems the fever might make. This does not rule out the risk for the requirement for more advanced treatment such as surgery, but it does signify the probability for a simple, yet effective treatment.

Brandon

Dr John Anne asked:


Your heart, other than your brain, is the center of many body processes especially that it pumps the river of your life, your blood. When not taken care properly, you may contact or acquire a heart disease that could be a threat to your life.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease , also known as cardiovascular disease, is an umbrella term used to describe other ailments that affect the busiest muscle in the body, the heart. Mainly, it affects older people and is hereditary in nature. Heart diseases have become one of the major causes of deaths all over the world. Many of the variants of the disease are considered as “silent killers� because they show no visible symptoms especially those that are affected with high blood pressure.

Heart disease s are closely associated with blood pressure, cholesterol, hardening of the arteries, heart attacks and strokes. The disease occurs when the heart and vessels of the blood are not working properly or are malfunctioning because of other factors like too much cholesterol, fatigue and improper diets.

Other Problems Related to Heart Disease

Many of the problems that go along with heart disease have to do with the arteries. Arteries are not the same with veins. They are muscular blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. Arteriosclerosis or the hardening of the arteries is one of the complications of heart disease. The arteries become thick and no longer flexible that the blood could not flow smoothly.

Another problem is atherosclerosis. This occurs when there are plaque deposits caused by the buildup of cholesterol and far in the arteries. In turn, the arteries become narrow and the blood can not flow through. When the heart could not get enough blood to pump, a person is suffering from angina and could feel chest pain.

Two of the most deadly complication is heart attack and stroke. These two happens when the heart malfunctions. There is heart attack when a blood clots in the part of the heart. On the other hand, stroke happens when the brain is not able to get enough blood due to the clotting of blood or bursting of blood vessel.

Acquiring Heart Disease

Unlike diseases that are caused by virus or bacteria, heart disease is not contagious. Rather, there are risk factors that increase the chances of a person to acquire heart disease. One of these factors is old age. When people get older, the functioning of the heart could not be as healthy as it uses to be while we are young. The heart also deteriorates especially because of unhealthy lifestyle. As earlier said, heart disease is also hereditary. When you have family members who had the same problems, most likely you could also acquire the same.

However, some risk factors of heart disease are controllable. Among these factors are smoking, having high blood pressure, being overweight, and not exercising. These entire factors, if not monitored can contribute to having a heart disease.

Signs of Heart Disease

Heart disease s do not actually give visible symptoms or signs to people suffering it. Most of the time the disease is detected when the patient is already feeling chest pain or already had a heart attack of stroke.

To determine whether a person has a heart disease, one or a couple of the following procedure is initiated. Electrocardiogram records the electric activity of the heart. Through this test, the heart beating is determined when it is normal or not. Echocardiogram, on the other hand, uses sound waves that bounced off the parts of the heart. These waves create a picture of the heart, which is displayed in the monitor. With the stress test, some cables are connected to the body and to the electrocardiogram machine. The heart activity and how the muscles react while the patient exercise is being monitored. Catheterization locates the narrowed arteries through a long and thin tube that is inserted inside the body. This tube emits a special dye. Last is the carotid artery scan, which also uses sound waves to locate blockage in the carotid artery.

Shannon

James Madisonic asked:


Heart disease is a potential threat to millions of people worldwide. A killer disease like heart attack can strike anytime, and threaten people with improper diet, lifestyles and certain genetic preconditions. Coronary Heart Disease afflicts about 14 million Americans.

Cause Of Heart Disease

Heart disease is caused by a buildup of fat and tissue in the arteries, the vessels that carry blood from heart to various parts of the body. The arteries are clogged with the buildup that leads to improper blood flow. This causes heart disease since the heart cannot receive oxygen carried by blood. This type of hardening of arterial walls is known as arteriosclerosis.

Risk Factors

There are several risk factors for heart disease. They include cholesterol, tobacco, fat containing diet and sedentary lifestyle. Obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure can also cause heart disease. Heredity is another major predictor of heart disease. If you lead a stressful life, then chances of heart disease are also high.

Risk factors are classified into modifiable and non-modifiable depending on whether you can reduce the risk by controlling the risk factors. Heredity, age and gender are non-modifiable risk factors, while cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure are modifiable risk factors.

Are The Risk Factors Good Predictors Of Heart Disease?

Heart disease is caused by the interplay of various risk factors, including cholesterol. Cholesterol is one of the major predictors of heart disease. Heredity, as mentioned, is another; people whose family members have been afflicted by heart disease should go for regular screening.

Symptoms Of Heart Disease

Heart disease may be known, as a “silent killer” since the onset of the heart attack can often be fatal. However, there are certain symptoms you should watch out for.

1. Pain in the chest.
2. Pain in upper abdomen.
3. Panting after strenuous activity.
4. Nausea and vomiting.
5. Dizzy spells.

Timely medical attention can spell the difference between life and death.

Preventing Heart Disease

Preventing heart disease is easy and a few precautions can go a long way in reducing your chances of getting heart attack. Keeping bad cholesterol levels low is very important. Traditional risk factors can identify people most at risk, so it is important to consult a medical practitioner and be sure that risk is minimized.

Lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on occurrence of heart disease. If you do not lead an active life, chances of heart disease go up multiple times. Stress is another major cause of heart disease. In order to prevent heart disease, you need to be physically active and have a low calorie, high fiber diet. Smoking and too much alcohol can also make heart disease a difficult condition to treat.

Tests For Heart Disease

Your doctor may ask for tests to confirm heart disease if he suspects you fall in the high-risk category. The tell tale signs physicians look for in a routine check include irregular heartbeat and murmurs. Tests include coronary angiography, ECG or electrocardiogram and CT scan. Your medical practitioner will recommend the best test. A chest x ray might also be recommended.

Heart disease can be prevented through changes in lifestyle and by reducing mental stress. Proper diet, exercise and a stress free lifestyle go a long way in countering one of the leading killers of the modern age. Modern medicine has also found better ways to cure heart disease, even for those prone to it due to hereditary and other factors. If you have crossed the age of 30 and think you are in the moderate or high-risk category, you should visit your medical practitioner today and get a thorough check up done.

Philip

Cindy Heller asked:


There are many factors that can cause heart disease and this article gives top five leading causes of heart disease. It is very important for you to know so you can avoid them and reduce the risk of suffering from heart disease.

#1 High cholesterol

High cholesterol can be extremely dangerous, and particularly it can cause atherosclerosis, or a hardening of the arteries, which sequentially can lead to blocked coronary arteries, marked by chest pain, or a heart attack. Other severe problems such as blocked arteries to the brain, for example, can result in a stroke, while blocked arteries in the legs can create pain, limping and even disability.

Cholesterol is a fatty and wax-like material that is naturally present in the human body, and your body makes use of this cholesterol to create many different hormones, such as Vitamin D and the bile acids that assist to digest fat. Even though a certain amount of cholesterol is usual, if you have too much in your bloodstream then the surplus may be dumped in the arteries of the heart, which in turn can lead to heart disease.

#2 Diabetes

Some people believe that they need to have been born with diabetes for it to be a factor; but in fact, a person can get type two diabetes. Type two diabetes usually comes about when a person is very much overweight, particularly because of their diet. Too many people have a fondness for junk food, and junk food has a hefty amount of sugar in it. Eating too much sugar not only makes considerable weight increase, it also increases the level of sugar in the blood, which results in type two diabetes.

For people that have type two diabetes owing to years of eating junk food, heart disease is the next thing that typically happens. The fat from this food is absorbed into the blood flow, and over time the fatty substances build up in the arteries. Some people end up with arteries that are so blocked that they need bypass surgery.

So, how can you keep away from getting diabetes and heart disease? First of all, the thing that you should do is ensure you eat the right food, food that is low in sugar and cholesterol. Also, be sure that you keep active, even if it is just taking a walk. Really, it is all about self-control, so if you choose to eat healthy now, you can have a healthier future.

#3 Hypertension or high blood pressure

Hypertensive heart disease is on the whole a more serious and dangerous form of heart disease and it is normally caused by uncontrolled and extended elevation of blood pressure, as this can lead to various changes in the myocardial structure, coronary vasculature, and conduction system of the heart.

Heart failure is a common complication of hypertensive heart disease, and it is often unrecognized, partly because of how at the time that heart failure develops, the dysfunction heart is unable to create the high blood pressure, which results in obscuring the etiology of the heart failure.

#4 Smoking

The carcinogens found in cigarettes are part of the relationship between smoking and heart disease. These substances that are in the cigarette are absorbed into the blood stream. As a result, the blood becomes contaminated. As this blood is pumped through the heart, the nicotine from the cigarettes also develops in the blood stream. As an outcome, the blood becomes thick, which can create clotting. Also, the nicotine will develop in the valves leading to the heart, which increases the risk of heart attack.

There are many ways that you can do to quit smoking and thus prevent heart disease. Consult with your doctor for these treatment methods. You are certain to discover a method that works for you, a method that could save your life as well as your health.

#5 Stress

There are two types of stress: physical stress and emotional stress. The physical stress places quantifiable and reproducible demands on the heart, and it is this physical stress which is usually accredited as being good and in fact, the lack of physical stress is what considered as being a major risk factor for heart disease.

Then there is the relationship between emotional stress and heart disease, and this is considered as being the more monumental relationship, as emotional stress is normally the type of stress that people are chatting about when they are referring to stress causing heart disease. If emotional stress is severe enough it can be extremely harmful, not only in regards to heart disease but to other diseases and illnesses as well.

The main factor that stress is so likely to cause heart disease is because the rush in adrenaline that is caused by severe emotional stress results in causing the blood to thicken more readily, thus significantly increasing the risk of heart attacks and other coronary problems.

Christina