Heart Disease - #1 Killer in the US

Just about everyone knows a family member, friend or coworker who has some form of heart disease.  My passion for working with patients to create a nutrition lifestyle to prevent or manage heart disease began when I was 12, after the loss of a grandparent due to a fatal heart attack. 

According to the CDC, it is still the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States.  In 2010, nearly ¼ of all deaths were from diseases of the heart.  In the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as atherosclerosis, which can lead to a heart attack.

It is important to have a basic understanding of the cardiovascular system to better understand what goes wrong with the development of heart disease.  The cardiovascular system is composed of the heart and blood vessels, including arteries and veins.  The blood vessels form a closed system under pressure for delivering blood to tissues throughout the body and for returning it to the heart.  The heart pumps blood through the elastic arteries to deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

There are many diseases of the heart and blood vessels.  The most common include atherosclerosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), and congestive heart failure (CHF).

Atherosclerosis – a narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen.  The narrowing of the arteries is caused by atheromas, or fatty plaques, that protrude into the blood vessel and narrow and eventually block the passageway.  Cell damage on the artery wall, inflammation, and elevated blood lipids may all contribute to the development of artery plaque, also called coronary artery disease.  A blocked artery may result in a heart attack.

Hypertension – High blood pressure that increases blood flow in excess of normal needs and if untreated, increases risks for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and dementia.  High blood pressure typically does not exhibit any symptoms until late in its course.  Often the cause of high blood pressure is due to many factors, including a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors.

Blood pressure is the force exerted per unit area on the walls of arteries and it is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).  The measurement is expressed as two numbers:  (1) systolic pressure - the amount of pressure in arteries as the heart contracts, and (2) diastolic pressure – the amount of pressure that remains in arteries between beats with the heart is relaxed.  Normal blood pressure is defined as less than 120/80 mm Hg.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) – CHF is a condition where the heart can no longer pump the blood delivered to it by the veins.  It is a progressive weakening of the heart muscle commonly due to decreased blood flow related to blocked arteries or from high blood pressure.  The heart muscle responds by enlarging, creating an even higher demand for oxygen.  The end result may be shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, and fluid buildup (edema) in the lungs, abdomen or legs.

Many people just accept that the development of high blood pressure or atherosclerosis is a part of the aging process and readily accept medication without considering lifestyle changes.  What they don’t realize is that heart disease is highly affected by lifestyle – nutrition, stress, body weight, smoking, and physical activity level are all factors that can be modified to prevent or improve heart disease.

In upcoming blog posts, I will discuss specific risk factors, how heart disease is diagnosed, and foods that support heart health.  With simple changes over time, you can change the course of your heart health.