Heart Disease General Information
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last updated: 10/24/05
Heart Disease
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Pathophysiology
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Smoking
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What is the most common cause of death in the US?
Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease, hypertension, and stroke.
What is atherosclerosis?
A slow progressive disease involving deposits of fat, cholesterol, and cellular debris in the inner lining of an artery. The build-up within an artery is called a plaque. This slow process occurs in all individuals as they age, but can be made significantly worse by certain risk factors.
Why is atherosclerosis bad for you?
A plaque may partially or totally block the blood flow through an artery. If an artery is blocked in the heart, a heart attack may result. If blockage occurs in the brain, a stroke may result. Atherosclerosis in other arteries may lead to blood clots that can also travel to the heart or brain.
What is a risk factor?
Something that increases your chances of getting a disease.
What are the major risk factors for atherosclerosis?
High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, alcohol, stress, age, gender, family history.
What is the #1 thing you can do to help prevent heart disease?
NOT smoke!
Which of the other risk factors can be controlled?
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, exercise, alcohol. Even certain types of diabetes can be controlled.
Which risk factors cannot be controlled?
Age, gender, family history.
What is the best way to have a good diet?
Eat balanced meals that include a variety of foods from different food groups and moderation of fats and sweets.
What are some foods that contain cholesterol?
Red meat, egg yolks, cheese, …
The best way to reduce your intake of cholesterol is to reduce your intake of fatty foods, don't smoke, and get plenty of exercise.Why is aerobic exercise good for you?
Strengthens your heart, increases circulation, tones muscles, burns calories to reduce fat, increases energy, helps control your appetite, increases lung capacity for better breathing.
What are some examples of aerobic exercise?
Running, brisk walking, bicycling, roller skating, soccer, swimming, …
What is hypertension?
High blood pressure. When blood pressure is high, the heart must work harder to deliver oxygenated blood through out the body.
STATISTICAL FACTS
[Source - CDC]*** For the last century, cardiovascular disease has been the #1
killer in the US every year except 1918
*** One cardiovascular death occurs every 33 seconds in the US
*** 70% of all deaths in the US have cardiovascular disease as the
primary or contributing cause
*** If all forms of cardiovascular disease were eliminated, life
expectancy would rise by 7 years
