| feel you might be headed down the road to either | | | | should pay close attention. Cigarette smoke (first and |
| your first heart attack, or possibly your second or third, | | | | second hand) promotes atherosclerosis and increases |
| and are wanting to learn more about the common | | | | the levels of blood clotting factors, such as fibrinogen. |
| causes of heart attack and stroke. Whatever the | | | | Also, the nicotine in cigarettes raises blood pressure, |
| case I think you will find the information listed here on | | | | and the carbon monoxide reduces oxygen in the blood. |
| common causes of heart disease both interesting and | | | | Diet: Certain dietary patterns have been linked to heart |
| informative. Now, if you have a few minutes why | | | | disease. These would include high saturated fat and |
| don’t we get started. | | | | cholesterol consumption and high sodium intake. |
| High cholesterol: If you do not recognize this as one of | | | | According to American Heart Association a heart |
| the common causes of heart disease you must have | | | | healthy diet consists of less than 10 percent saturated |
| been in a comma for the last 20 years or so, and I | | | | fat. |
| would like to take this opportunity to welcome you | | | | Obesity: In the seventeenth century excess weight |
| back to the real world. | | | | was considered attractive and sign of wealth. Today |
| Cholesterol is the great artery blocker that causes a | | | | we know that that being overweight is linked to high |
| heart attack or stroke. It is produced in sufficient | | | | bad cholesterol levels and other blood fats, reduces |
| quantities by the liver to supply the body with its | | | | the number of helpful HDL molecules, and increases |
| essential needs. When there is too much cholesterol in | | | | the risks of diabetes. |
| the body — because of diet and the rate at | | | | Being inactive is one of the most common causes of |
| which the cholesterol is processed — it is | | | | heart disease: Who would have thought that being a |
| deposited in the arteries, including those in the heart. | | | | couch potato while consuming a creamy dessert |
| This process leads to a narrowing of the arteries, | | | | would be one of the most common causes of heart |
| heart disease, as well as other conditions. | | | | disease. Being inactive is serious business and can |
| There are two basic types of cholesterol HDL and | | | | impact other risk factors such as obesity, high blood |
| LDL. HDL is comprised mainly of protein and | | | | pressure, increasing blood fat levels (triglycerides), |
| considered good cholesterol, with LDL being made up | | | | reducing protective HDL levels, and increasing the |
| of mostly fat and being considered bad cholesterol. It is | | | | chances of diabetes. |
| generally accepted that when a person’s ratio | | | | What else: It goes without saying that if you have one |
| of bad cholesterol to good cholesterol exceeds 2.5 to1 | | | | or more of the common causes of heart disease |
| they are at risk of a heart attack or stroke. | | | | listed above you should make some changes before it |
| Smokers beware: If you are can barely read this | | | | is too late. |
| article because of the dense cigarette smoke you | | | | |