Causes Of Heart Disease Essay

Heart disease also known as cardiovascular disease is a term that is used to describe different types of heart conditions. This is a disease that affects the cardiovascular system. The heart disease remains the number one killer disease especially in the U.S. and it is also a major cause of disability in patients. The same heart disease is also the main reason why people develop heart attacks. There are different types of heart diseases, cardiomyopaphy, coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, inflammatory heart disease, valvular heart disease and stroke just to mention but a few. Even though it is the world’s number one silent killer, it is a controllable and manageable disease.
There are diverse causes of heart disease but the main known cause of heart disease ids atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries when excess fatty plaques are built up on the walls of the arteries narrowing them and later restricting the flow of blood and other nutrients in the body. When the fatty plaques are built up in the arteries, they harden and this affects the supply of oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. When the supply of oxygen is affected, it causes breathing problems thus heart disease. Atherosclerosis causes damages to the heart and the blood vessels.
Another factor that causes heart disease is tobacco use, cigarette smoking and alcohol use. Smoking is known to destroy enzymes that prevent cholesterol build up in the body and when these enzymes are destroyed, the walls of the arteries narrows causing blockage in the arteries. Cigarette ingredients posses serious health risks to the heart. Smoking causes atherosclerosis which is the main cause of heart disease. Smoking causes the reduction of oxygen flow in the body thus causing breathing difficulties in patients which leads to heart problem and can later lead to death due to heart failure. Smoking leads to high blood pressure due to its nicotine content that raises an individual’s blood pressure. Smoking speeds up the heart rate and makes the nerves shaky and weak. It also causes breathing difficulties while walking or running. Excessive alcohol consumption causes heart disease because it leads to the increase of fats in the blood leading to atherosclerosis. It also leads to high blood pressure.
Poor diet and lack of exercise are other major causes of heart disease. A diet that is full of fats and cholesterol leads to atherosclerosis. Furthermore, high sodium intake increases an individual’s blood pressure which later leads to heart conditions. Many people like taking junk foods and foods with a lot of fats without knowing that they are posing a serious health risk to their bodies. One should watch what they take and avoid foods with lots of fats and focus in foods rich in vitamins, calcium and potassium to promote their health. Physical in-activity causes an increase of unused fats in the body which promotes the hardening of the arteries reducing the flow of oxygen and other nutrients in the body. Individuals should eat healthily and become physically active so as to avoid the risk of heart disease.
Another cause of heart disease is overweight and obesity. People who are obese and overweight are at a very high risk of suffering from high blood pressure which is a major risk factor of heart disease. High blood cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease in a person and high cholesterol levels are linked to obesity and overweight. An obese or overweight person is at high risk of heart disease because of their abnormal levels of fats in their bodies which is a risk factor of heart disease. Individual’s lifestyles can expose them to risks of contacting heart diseases.
In essence, heart disease is a leading killer disease in the U.S. and the causes can be prevented. It is a disease that is caused by damage on the heart muscles. This disease is caused by smoking, physical in activity, high blood pressure, excessive alcohol consumption and overall atherosclerosis. Heart disease is a disease that can be controlled and managed by a person’s lifestyle. Through physical activities, eating well, refraining from smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, the risks of heart disease can be reduced.