Cardiovascular Disease Treatments, Symptoms, and Prevention

In recent years we have heard so much about foods and nutrients that are labeled as “heart healthy”. Have you ever stopped to wonder just why Madison Avenue advertising firms are able to cash in on heart healthy ads and logos? It is because heart disease, and more specifically cardiovascular disease, is still the number one leading cause of death in the United States.

Cardiovascular disease generally refers to hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. Over time fatty plaques are built up along the artery walls. When enough plaque builds up the arteries become hard and brittle. They also become blocked from the buildup and this eventually leads to what we refer to as heart attacks. It is known that genetics and lifestyle both play an integral roll in whether or not we will be predisposed to heart disease.

The common causes of atherosclerosis are unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, smoking and being overweight, all of which we can do something about. For once it might not be a bad idea to listen to those ad execs! Eat diets low in fat and high in fiber and antioxidants. The purpose is to flush out the plaque and toxins and keep it from building back up. Get your blood circulating with some good old fashioned exercise and by all means, quit smoking if you are a smoker.

Research says that the sooner we make radical changes to our diet and lifestyle, the easier it will be to repair your damaged arteries. It is especially important to pay attention to a heart healthy lifestyle if you have any history of heart disease in your family.