Heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis (ath-uh-roh-skluh-roh-sis), which is the buildup of fatty deposits, or plaques, in the walls of the coronary arteries over many years.
The heart beats about 2.5 billion times over the average lifetime, pushing millions of gallons of blood to every part of the body. This steady flow carries with it oxygen, fuel, hormones, other compounds, and a host of essential cells.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when your blood pressure increases to unhealthy levels. Your blood pressure measurement takes into account how much blood is passing through your blood vessels and the amount of resistance the blood meets while the heart is pumping.
Heart Disease
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What Is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis (ath-uh-roh-skluh-roh-sis), which is the buildup of fatty deposits, or plaques, in the walls of the coronary arteries over many years. The coronary arteries surround the outside of the heart and supply blood nutrients and oxygen to the heart muscle. When plaque builds up inside the arteries, there is less space for blood to flow normally and deliver oxygen to the heart. If the flow of blood to your heart is reduced by plaque buildup or is blocked if a plaque suddenly ruptures, it can cause angina (chest pain or discomfort) or a heart attack.
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What Is Rheumatic Heart Disease?
Rheumatic heart disease is when heart valves become damaged due to a “Group A Streptococcal′ throat infection, more commonly known as strep throat. The infection usually occurs during childhood,.
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Understanding Heart Disease in Women
Many many women and many doctors don't know that heart disease is the number one killer of women, and the most common cause of disability. Furthermore,.
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Heart Disease Risk Factors in Women
If you are a woman, it is important to understand your heart disease risk—and to do something about it. While many women (and unfortunately, some doctors) apparently still do not know it,.
Heart Health
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Yoga for Heart Health
More than a few patients have told me they do not like exercise. (Gulp.) Three well-known facts make this tough to hear: exercise is essential for heart health; heart disease is the number one killer of men and women; and heart disease is largely avoidable.
6 Simple Rules to Heart Healthy Eating
When I first became a cardiologist about 15 years ago, the answer to this question seemed simple. It was a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet. Unfortunately, that answer ended up falling apart. Turns out, eating foods with cholesterol probably doesn′t have much influence on your cholesterol levels;
Cholesterol
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How to boost your 'good' cholesterol
Your cholesterol levels are an important measure of heart health.
Tips to Keep Your Cholesterol in Check
Your body needs some cholesterol, but not too much.
Control Your Cholesterol
If you’re reading this, you probably care about health and the role that cholesterol can play.
12 Common Side Effects of Cholesterol Drugs
If you’re taking medicine to lower your cholesterol,...
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High Cholesterol in Children: Management and Treatment
The best way to treat cholesterol in children ...
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Treatment of High Cholesterol in Children
Evidence suggests that children with high cholesterol ...
R e a d m o r eHigh Blood Pressure
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Hypertension and Nutrition
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. The heart pumps blood into the arteries (blood vessels) which carry the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, means the pressure in your arteries is above the normal range. In most cases, no one knows what causes high blood pressure. What you eat can affect your blood pressure.
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Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home
You don't always have to go to your doctor's office to have your blood pressure checked; you can monitor your own blood pressure at home. This is especially important if your doctor recommends that you monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis.
Tips for Checking Your Own Blood Pressure
There are certain factors that can cause blood pressure to temporarily rise. For example, blood pressure normally rises as a result of:
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Get Started With Exercise to Lower Blood Pressure
Exercise and High Blood Pressure
Exercise is one of the keys to lower your blood pressure. Working out also boosts the effectiveness of blood pressure medication if you're already being treated for hypertension. You don't have to be an athlete, either.
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Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
One of the most dangerous aspects of hypertension is that you may not know that you have it. In fact, nearly one-third of people who have high blood pressure don't know it. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is through regular checkups. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure.
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6 Natural Essentials For a Healthy Blood Pressure
According to the American Heart Association, 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure. More importantly, 1 in 6 don’t even know it — and that’s a BIG problem!
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension (See blood pressure chart below) is called the “silent killer” for a reason — there are no obvious symptoms but it can result in heart attack, stroke and even death.
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