You Can Be Victim To Heart Diseases If You Dont Think Of Weight Loss

Heart disease unless congenital, is a lifestyle disease much like Type 2 Diabetes. By this we mean that it is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Not surprisingly, as per statistics available, it is the number one killer in affluent countries like the United States.

Heart disease is a broad term covering a number of specific conditions of either the heart itself or of the blood vessels leading to and from the heart. It is a disorder affecting the heart and its circulatory system and it can include damage to the lining, valves, muscle, arteries or the electrical system of the heart. A person can suffer from one or more symptom arising form a single or multiple causes.

The common forms of heart disease are Coronary disease, Cardiomyopathy, Angina, Aneurysms, Artherosclerosis and Valvular disease.

The basic factors contributing to heart disease

When there is no genetic factor involved, heart disease is brought on either by a faulty lifestyle or by advancing age.

While nothing much can be done about advancing age, plenty can be done about lifestyle factors. Some factors that are clearly high risk are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes, obesity and being overweight. All these are direct products of a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is produced by the liver and is required by the body to form cell membranes and hormones. A diet high in unsaturated fats and a lack of exercise gives rise to excess cholesterol in the body which clogs the arteries and restricts the blood supply to the heart, leading to heart disease.

Likewise an excess of LDL (low density lipoprotein) or bad cholesterol again, arising from an improper diet and a lack of exercise, causes plaque to form on the arterial walls, stiffening them, leading to a condition called Atherosclerosis.
High blood pressure can be caused by smoking, which is another unhealthy habit.

Obesity and physical inactivity are directly responsible to both these conditions. Doctors use the Body Mass Index or BMI formula to measure obesity and body weight; a BMI greater than 25 means the person is overweight and a BMI greater than 30 is indicative of obesity. It is necessary for all of us to find out our BMI and maintain it throughout our lives for optimum cardiovascular health.

Clearly, maintaining an ideal body weight and eating a healthy diet can prevent heart disease to a great extent. For those who have already become victims of heart ailments, making drastic changes in their lifestyle is imperative. Diets can be changed immediately, but before starting a weight loss program a doctor's opinion must be taken. People of advanced age can follow the same precautions to protect the health of their cardiovascular system.

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