What causes coronary heart disease? Is there anything you can do to prevent it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coronary artery disease is caused by the build-up of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries that drive blood to the heart. The only risk factor of developing atherosclerotic plaques is elevated LDL cholesterol. Therefore, to prevent coronary heart disease, you must reduce your LDL by limiting your consumption of trans fat, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep reading to learn more about heart disease risk factors and prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Around 375,000 people die from heart disease every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coronary heart disease didn\u2019t use to exist in some populations. It appears to be predominantly an environmental problem\u2014when people move from low-risk areas to high-risk areas, their disease rates increase to match their new homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned, the only coronary heart disease risk factor is high LDL cholesterol which causes atherosclerotic plagues (the hardening of blood vessels). Atherosclerotic plaques can start to be seen in childhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elevated cholesterol and LDL is the only risk factor for atherosclerotic plaque.<\/strong> To reduce LDL, you need to reduce intake of trans fat, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideally, your optimal LDL is 50-70 mg\/dL, and your total cholesterol under 150 mg\/dL. The usual recommendation from doctors is below 100 mg\/dL and 200 mg\/dL, respectively, but keep in mind this is the average recommendation in a country where heart disease is the #1 killer. It\u2019s better to aim for better than average, if you want to beat the average statistics on heart disease deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heart disease itself is reversible<\/strong>\u2014plaques can actually shrink in size! Your body actually wants to heal itself. But if you cut yourself and keep slicing open the cut 3 times a day, it\u2019s not going to heal<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meat-eating is associated with heart disease and atherosclerotic plaques. A possible mechanism is that bacterial endotoxins in meat might trigger inflammation, even when the meat is cooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Foods shown to reduce heart disease:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things that don\u2019t reduce heart disease:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why doesn\u2019t the idea that diet can reverse heart disease get more public attention? It likely has to do with lobbying interests by powerful industry groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What causes coronary heart disease? Is there anything you can do to prevent it? Coronary artery disease is caused by the build-up of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries that drive blood to the heart. The only risk factor of developing atherosclerotic plaques is elevated LDL cholesterol. Therefore, to prevent coronary heart disease, you must reduce your LDL by limiting your consumption of trans fat, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol. Keep reading to learn more about heart disease risk factors and prevention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":12075,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,16,7],"tags":[303],"class_list":["post-37109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food","category-health","category-lifestyle","tag-how-not-to-die","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n