Imagine the vascular system as your body’s plumbing. The heart is the pump, the arteries and veins are the pipes, and the blood is the water that flows through the entire system.
Over time, fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in your blood build up as plaque and stick to the arterial walls, much like how grease and other contaminants build up in your home’s piping system.
As the plaque grows, your arteries narrow and harden, restricting the amount of blood that flows through them, which leads to your heart muscle not getting the oxygen it needs to function properly.
This reduction of blood flow to your heart is known as coronary heart disease (CHD), coronary artery disease (CAD), or ischemic heart disease (IHD).
This condition remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. in both men and women and is the most common type of heart disease.
Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease may include:
– Chest pain
– Shortness of breath
– Heart palpitations
– Heart attacks
This is where some people get confused. Many are not aware that heart attacks are just a manifestation of the underlying problem that is CHD.
Most heart attacks happen when a blood clot suddenly cuts off the hearts’ blood supply, causing permanent heart damage.
What Causes Coronary Heart Disease?
Experts believe that CHD begins with damage or injury to the inner layer of a coronary artery, sometimes as early as childhood. The damage may be caused by various factors.
Once the inner wall of an artery gets damaged, fatty deposits tend to accumulate at the site of the injury in a process called atherosclerosis.
Risk factors include:
– Smoking
– High LDL cholesterol
– Low HDL cholesterol
– High blood pressure (hypertension)
– Family history
– Diabetes
– Obesity
– Physical inactivity
– Being post-menopausal for women
– Being older than 45 for men
Is There a Way to Reverse Coronary Heart Disease?
Unfortunately, much like diabetes, CHD has no known cure at this time. There is some anecdotal evidence of people who undergo lifestyle changes that enabled them to abandon all medication and become symptom-free, but there are no actual studies of arteries getting cleared of plaque buildup.
The good news is, there are medical treatments available that can alleviate the symptoms and reduce the risk of further problems, including those that lower blood pressure or widen the arteries. Good dietary and lifestyle habits can also help manage this condition, and if you start early, even prevent it altogether.
6 Proven Ways You Can Lower Your Risk of Coronary Heart Disease:
1. Eating a healthy, balanced diet.
A low-fat, high-fiber diet is recommended, which should include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains.
Limiting the amount of salt you eat is recommended, as too much salt will increase your blood pressure.
There are two types of fat: saturated and unsaturated. Try to avoid food containing saturated fats because these will increase the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood.
2. Being more physically active.
Combining a healthy diet with resistance or aerobic exercise is the best way to maintain a healthy weight, which reduces your chances of developing high blood pressure.
Regular exercise will not only make your circulatory system more efficient but will also lower your cholesterol level.
3. Giving up smoking and reducing alcohol consumption.
According to the 2014 Surgeon General’s Report, one out of every four deaths from cardiovascular disease is caused by smoking.
Smoking increases the formation of plaque in blood vessels. Chemicals in cigarette smoke cause the blood to thicken and form clots inside veins and arteries.
Alcohol, on the other hand, can interact with your medicines if you’re being treated for heart disease. It may also contribute to high blood pressure, increase your risk of stroke, and cause abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia).
4. Keeping blood pressure under control
People with hypertension are more likely to develop CHD because high blood pressure puts added force against the artery walls.
This extra pressure can damage the arteries, making them more vulnerable to the narrowing and plaque buildup associated with atherosclerosis.
You can keep your blood pressure under control by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and, if required, taking the appropriate medication to lower your blood pressure.
5. Get Educated About Heart Disease and Risk Factors
Start by clicking the link below to watch a special recorded webinar on understanding the 3 Phases of Heart Health and their corresponding risk factors.
https://allswellhealth.yourwellnessproject.com/member/discover/webinar/3-phases-of-heart-health
In this free webinar, you will learn…
– How to take an active role in keeping your cardiovascular system healthy
– How to talk to your doctor about heart health
– The importance of diet and lifestyle in heart health
– Understanding commonly tested risk factors
– The role of supplementation: an introduction to several approaches with clinical support
6. Consider Adding Clinically-Proven Supplements for Your Heart
Shaklee scientifically supported SmartHeart products, including Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Reduction Regimens, are designed to help reduce your risk of heart disease by supporting optimal cardiovascular health. If you suffer from high blood pressure or high cholesterol, these natural alternatives are a good first step to take.
If you have one or more of the risk factors associated with CHD, talk to your doctor. He or she may want to test you for the condition, especially if you have signs or symptoms of narrowed arteries.
Here’s to keeping your arteries clog-free!
