Causes of Coronary
Heart Disease
The 5 Most Common Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
There are a couple of identified causes of coronary heart
disease. The causes include environmental, genetic, and some
other causes that are connected to our lifestyle and behavior.
Now, let’s read through the most common causes of coronary
heart disease. In this article, the term coronary heart disease
will be used to describe atherosclerosis, which is a type
of heart disease caused by the accumulated fatty plaques in
the arteries.
Atherosclerosis has been linked to 50% of the deaths in the
United State. By learning and understanding the causes of
coronary heart disease will also allow you to learn how to
avoid some of the risk factors.
Genetics
When you enquire about heart disease from your doctor, chances
are, the doctor will ask if you have any relatives with coronary
heart disease. If your close relatives happened to be victims
of coronary heart disease when they were young, your chances
of experiencing it at a young age are also increased. Besides,
African-Americans also have a higher rate of coronary heart
disease than do Caucasian Americans.
Age
Of course, the older you are, the higher your risk for coronary
heart disease.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol, which is also one of the causes of coronary
heart disease by forming sticky plaques which will block the
arteries, can be blamed on both genetics and lifestyle. Whatever
your situation might be, it's important to keep your "bad
cholesterol" (LDL) as low as possible. Focus your diet
on fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains, you should also avoid
fatty foods whenever possible. If your doctor has given you
medication, make sure you take it regularly.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) can also be caused by
genetics and your lifestyle. However, it is also a cause of
coronary heart disease because the heart is forced to work
harder and causes microscopic damage to the arteries where
plaques can form. If you have hypertension, check your blood
pressure often. And it is better to try to adopt a more active
lifestyle. Try to lose some weight if you are happy, even
losing a small percentage of your body weight can improve
your health. Again, if your doctor prescribes medications,
take them religiously.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is always connected to heart disease. If
you are diabetic, then you need to check your blood-glucose
level regularly. Find out the suitable blood-glucose level
for you and try to keep your blood glucose at or under that
level. Diabetes is also associated with hypertension and high
cholesterol, so you need to pay attention to these problems,
too.
If you have concerns about coronary heart disease, it's never
too soon to talk to your doctor and ask for tips from him
or her about the very best ways to protect your heart.
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