Do You Have A Family History of Cardiovascular Disease?
Do You Have A Family History of Cardiovascular Disease
?
If you have a family history of cardiovascular disease like I do you have probably experienced the condition up close and personal. Watching this disease ravage a healthy person is truly sad, but now is the time to break the cycle both for yourself and your kids. Nevertheless, a history of cardiovascular disease will not be easy to change especially when it comes to lifestyle choices.
The role cholesterol plays in a family history of cardiovascular disease
For me at least, growing up in the Southern United States was a cholesterol nightmare. Fried chicken, high fat cuts of meat, fried pies, vegetables seasoned with grease, gravy, breakfast sausage, and cheese were just a few of the regular food items placed on my plate. The chances are pretty good that if you are reading this article you may have a similar story to tell. For instance if you grew up in the Northern United States franks, pizza, cheese, and Philly cheese steak sandwiches likely were something that not only did you eat growing up but loved every minute of it.
The one thing all these foods have in common is that they are high in artery clogging cholesterol.
Why does cholesterol matter?
Moderate amounts of cholesterol are needed for our cells to function properly. The problem is our liver supplies all we need thus when we consume high fat foods our cholesterol is likely to get out of whack. It is only when our bad cholesterol (LDL) rises to a level of150 milligrams for every deciliter of blood or higher do we start to run into a problem. Over time cholesterol starts to build in our arteries forming what is known as arterial plaque. As plaque deposits build blood flow is reduced to the heart and subsequently other parts of our body as well. Our heart strains to pump blood, oxygen flow is disrupted both to the heart and body, we may have an occasional chest pain, get dizzy once in a while, or just feel tired all the time. Put simply the cholesterol deposits that have formed in our coronary arteries are beginning to produce physiological changes for the worst.
When it comes to a family history of cardiovascular disease is cholesterol the only factor?
Probably not! Cigarette smokers are four times more likely to have a heart attack than none smokers, with cigar smokers coming in at around two to one. Second hand smoke also has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies show that if a person has a close family member that smokes he/she is more likely to become a smoker as well.
Inactivity is another area of concern when it comes to linking heredity and cardiovascular disease. Studies show that children from families who don't exercise generally grow up with a sedentary lifestyle that carries forward into adulthood. According to statistics compiled by the CDC just shy of 40 of heart attack victims lead inactive lifestyle.
Now I know about the risk factors for those with a family history of cardiovascular disease, what can I do about it?
Lowering cholesterol, in most cases, is about changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as statins or natural cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol levels), and bring overall cholesterol down to acceptable heart healthy levels. Certainly the aforementioned statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of serious label warnings. The side effect risks have made natural cholesterol reduction supplements combined with diet modification and exercise is a safe and effective combination worth considering.
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/do-you-have-a-family-history-of-cardiovascular-disease-2744679.html
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