Health Touches

Doctors most commonly refer to coronary heart disease as atherosclerosis. It is a type of heart disease that is caused by the build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries of the heart. This disease causes more than 50% of the deaths that occur in the United States alone. This is why it is so important to learn about the various causes of the disease, in order that you can avoid some of the risk factors.

There are a lot of different causes of coronary heart disease. Some of these causes are environmental, while others are genetic, and still others are caused by your lifestyle and behavior. In this article you will discover the five most common causes of coronary heart disease. The risk factors for this disease include:

1. Doctors often ask their patients if they have any relatives who have coronary heart disease. This is because having several close relatives who were young when they developed this disease; you have an increased chance of also developing this disease at a young age. However, the older you get, the higher your risk factors are for developing this disease as well, even if you do not have any close relatives with the disease.
2. If you are an African-American you have a higher chance of developing coronary heart disease than does a Caucasian American.
3. High cholesterol can be caused by both genetics and lifestyle. In either case, if you have high cholesterol, then you are at higher risk of developing coronary heart disease. For this reason, it is important to keep your LDL (bad cholesterol) as low as possible. You can do this by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and less fatty foods. If your doctor prescribes a cholesterol medication, then you should make sure that you are taking it as it has been prescribed.
4. Like high cholesterol, high blood pressure (also commonly known as hypertension) can also be caused by either genetics or lifestyle. Regardless of how you develop high cholesterol, it is important to understand that it can lead to the development of coronary heart disease. This is because the heart is forced to work harder and microscopic damage is also caused to the arteries where plaques originate. So, if you have high blood pressure you should make sure that you get it checked regularly. You should also try to develop a healthier lifestyle wherein you are active and loose any extra weight. Even if you just loose a little bit of weight this can be very beneficial. Of course, if your doctor prescribes any type of medication you should also be sure that you are taking them properly.
5. Many studies have shown that Type 2 Diabetes is strongly associated with heart disease. So, if you are diabetic you should be sure to check your blood-glucose level regularly. Your doctor will tell you what an acceptable level is. It is then your job to work to keep your blood glucose at or under that level. You should also know that diabetes is also associated with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so make sure that you are addressing these health issues as well.

If you are concerned about coronary heart disease, then take time to talk to your doctor. Your doctor will be able to give you tips on how to best protect your heart.