Risk of coronary heart disease

Coronary arteries are blood vessels that serve the heart of the food supply to the cells of the heart. Coronary heart disease occurs when the coronary arteries are blocked or narrowed due to fatty deposits, which gradually accumulate in the arterial wall. Accumulation process is called atherosclerosis, and can occur in other arteries, not only in the coronary arteries.

Lack of blood supply due to narrowing of the coronary arteries cause chest pain called angina, which usually occurs during physical activity or stress. If blood does not flow at all because of the blocked coronary artery, the patient can suffer fatal heart attack. Heart attacks can occur anytime, even when you are resting.

Coronary heart disease can also lead to weakened heart pump power so that the blood can not circulate through the body perfectly (heart failure). Patients with heart failure can be hard to breathe because his lungs filled with fluid, feeling very tired, and swelling in the legs and joints.

Risk Factors

1. High Cholesterol Levels.

Coronary heart disease is the cause of fatty deposits on the walls of the coronary arteries, which is composed of cholesterol and other waste materials. To reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, you have to keep cholesterol levels in the blood. Cholesterol is a complex fatty compound naturally produced by the body and beneficial for the formation of cell walls and hormones. Two-thirds of cholesterol produced by the liver (liver), another third is obtained directly from food. Cholesterol in the blood circulated through molecules called lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins, the low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

LDL transports cholesterol from the liver to body cells. HDL function instead, transports excess cholesterol to the liver for processing and thrown out. Excessive LDL can cause buildup of cholesterol on artery walls so-called "bad cholesterol". Optimal LDL levels are 100-129 mg / dL. Excess LDL causes HDL "overwhelmed" dispose of excess cholesterol. The recommended total cholesterol (HDL + LDL) is below 200 mg / dL (border line = 240).

2. High Blood Pressure / Hypertension.

High blood pressure adds to the heart so that the heart walls thicken / stiffness and increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

There are two blood pressure measurements.

Systolic blood pressure is the pressure that comes from the heart throughout the body. Diastolic pressure is the blood pressure re-filling of the heart. In general, people said to suffer from hypertension if the systolic blood pressure / diastolic above 140/90 mmHg.

3. Thrombosis.

Thrombosis is a blood clot in an artery or vein. When thrombosis occurs in the coronary arteries, then you run the risk of coronary heart disease. Thrombosis is usually in the vessel wall thickening due to atherosclerosis. Smoking increases the risk of thrombosis by up to several orders of magnitude.

4. Obesity.

Overweight (obesity) increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. People who are overweight also tend to have low levels of HDL / LDL is high.

5. Diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes increases the risk of coronary heart disease, especially if the blood sugar is not well controlled. Two-thirds of people with diabetes die from heart disease and other cardiovascular disorders.

6. Aging.

The risk of coronary heart disease increases with age. As you get older, diminishing the effectiveness of the body's organs, including the cardiovascular system. There are more than 80 percent of patients with coronary heart disease over 60 years. Men tend to be more quickly affected than women, a new risk increases dramatically after menopause.

7. Descendants.

Your risk is higher if your parents are also affected by coronary heart disease, especially when it started to develop at the age less than 60 years.

How to Reduce Risk

Although unable to resist aging and affects lineage, you can do the following to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease:

Reducing meat consumption is high in saturated fat.

Get more on eating fruits, vegetables and grains that contain high antioxidants (Vitamins A, C and E). Antioxidants prevent saturated fat turns into cholesterol.

Avoid stress. Stress can cause an imbalance of body function, increase blood pressure and make your smoking and overeating.

No excessive smoking and drinking coffee.

Frequently exercise. Aerobic exercise for 30 minutes a day, 3-4 times a week can strengthen your heart, burn fat and keep the balance of HDL and LDL.