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June 11, 2004 |
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Heart Health More women die every year from heart disease than all forms of cancer combined, and yet we are not as vigilant about protecting our hearts as we are about protecting our breasts. What are we waiting for? Protecting yourself against heart disease is as simple as making changes in your diet, taking certain nutrients, and incorporating stress reduction techniques and exercise into your day. The most common cause of heart attacks in women is coronary artery disease, a narrowing of one or more of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. This narrowing is due to the formation of plaque in the arteries. Plaque is a thick, waxy, yellowish substance consisting primarily of cholesterol, smooth muscle cells, and foam cells. Just as the gunk clogging your drain won’t let water flow down, the plaque clogging your arteries won’t let blood flow, starving the heart and eventually leading to a heart attack.
There are three key areas you can control that contribute to coronary artery disease: Cholesterol is a yellowish, waxy substance your liver produces to help make hormones and vitamin D. (You also get cholesterol through the foods you eat, primarily dairy, meat and fish.) Because it is waxy, and your blood is water-based, your body attaches it to different compounds to transport it through the bloodstream. The two main compounds are low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the bad cholesterol), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, the good cholesterol). HDL helps take excess cholesterol back to the liver, where your body gets rid of it through bile. Cholesterol that is attached to LDL, however, can build up and damage the inner lining of blood vessel walls, causing plaque to form, much like the plaque on your teeth. This plaque then narrows the blood vessel walls, restricting the flow of oxygen- and nutrient-carrying blood. The key is trying to keep your HDL levels high and your LDL levels low. 2. Platelets. These small round bodies produced in bone marrow and stored in the spleen make up much of your blood. If your platelets are excessively sticky, it becomes easier for blood clots to form. Then these platelets can stick to arteries where plaque has formed, eventually blocking the vessel wall and leading to a heart attack. 3. Triglycerides. Triglycerides are the form in which your body stores fat. If you have elevated triglycerides (a level of 190 mg/dL or greater), you run a greater risk of coronary artery disease.
Read More on Heart Health: Getting Started Different Gender, Different Symptoms Quiz: What Is Your Risk of Heart Disease? Keep it SIMPLE Heart tip Fiber, Fiber, Fiber
Nutritional Therapies Foods That Help Your Heart, Foods That Hurt It Mineral Deficiencies Lead to Heart Problems Complementary Therapies
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