Heart attacks are preventable!

Heart disease kills millions of people worldwide. Most of us are well aware that chest pain is a symptom of heart disease. However, there are other fewer conspicuous symptoms, which can be easily mistaken for other conditions. The fascinating thing about heart disease is that it is preventable. I want to discuss a few points with regards to that.
Heart attacks occur when the heart muscle starves of oxygen supply due to blockages in the arteries that feeds it. These arteries are known as coronary arteries, and they branch from the aorta, the largest blood vessel in our body. The blockages in the coronary arteries can result from a number of factors, and they are known as "risk factors". The major risk factors are hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, tobacco use and a family history of premature coronary artery disease. There are other risk factors such as obesity, lack of physical exercise, emotional stress and many more.

The bad cholesterol, also known as LDL, is the principal culprit in the process. How do we get a higher level of bad cholesterol? Mostly, from unhealthy eating habits. Any food that is high in saturated fat, which means most of the "tasty stuff" is the source of LDL. This bad cholesterol undergoes a complex process to form what is known as the "plaque" inside the coronary arteries. It is the sudden rupture of these "plaques" is what causes the heart attack.

Why do the plaques rupture? Well, that is a million dollar question, and we still do not have clear answers. However, we do know several things about these. I want to mention at least two of them.1.The more risk factors you have, the higher the possibility of their formation. 2. Exercise stabilizes them and makes them less "vulnerable" to rupture.

So what can you do to help in the wellness of your coronary arteries, which will most likely determine the longevity of your life? Modify your risk factors. While you cannot change your age, sex , family history and ethnic background, you can do a lot of things to keep the other factors under check. You can keep your sugars, cholesterol and blood pressure under control with diets and exercise. If those measures fail, you can always seek professional advice regarding medical therapy.

Smoking is one the worst offences against your own body, and it destroys the inner lining of the coronary arteries called "endothelium". Once the endothelium is injured, the damage is begun.

We have to start somewhere in this journey. Changing the harmful dietary habits and regular exercise are some best "wellness investments" . So let us start our march towards a healthier heart today. Remember, heart attacks are preventable. It is a process and you will always be the best contributor to it. So let us start our journey today.