Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the term used for a condition affecting arteries that carry oxygen to the heart. In moderate cases, the heart receives enough oxygen to support normal activity. Emotional or physical stress can result in chest pain. If oxygen supply to any part of the heart muscle becomes completely closed off a heart attack can occur.
The four major risk factors for developing CHD are:
Other risk factors include:
Men are at greater risk, although growing evidence shows that postmenopausal women are also at risk.
Some risk factors such as gender and age cannot be modified; however, lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity and blood cholesterol levels can be controlled.
Your diet and exercise program can play a major role in the prevention of CHD.
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A low-fat, high carbohydrate diet and a regular exercise program are recommended for everyone. Beginning in childhood plaque can form on the walls of the arteries that carry oxygen to the heart, narrowing the space through which the blood can pass. Although it is best to establish good eating and exercise habits during childhood, positive changes can be made at any age.
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Cholesterol and triglycerides are the major fats and oils found in the blood.
Cholesterol is found in animal foods and produced by the human liver. Our bodies use cholesterol to produce the bile acids essential for digestion, vitamin D and various hormones. Cholesterol also lends structure to every cell in our bodies.
Triglycerides are dietary and body fats. Our livers produce triglycerides from an excess of calories. These triglycerides are transported in the blood and stored as body fat.
Cholesterol and triglycerides are carried through the blood by lipoproteins. You may have heard these referred to as "LDL" and"HDL."
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LDL is low density lipoprotein, the major carrier of cholesterol in the blood. High blood cholesterol often means high LDL cholesterol. It is often called "bad cholesterol."
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HDL is high density lipoprotein that carries cholesterol away from the blood vessels and halts fatty build-up on blood vessels and their walls. HDL is often referred to as "good cholesterol."
Experts agree that high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol are independent risk factors for CHD. High triglycerides are not a proven direct cause of CHD. However, high triglycerides are often associated with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and low HDL cholesterol. So, although LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels remain of primary importance in CHD prevention and treatment, triglycerides also are considered.
Some causes of high cholesterol and high triglycerides are:
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Genetic lifestyle and medical factors
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Diets high in total fat, saturated fat and dietary cholesterol
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Medical conditions such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes and kidney disease
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Sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption and certain medications
Beginning at age twenty, your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol should be checked once every five years
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A low-fat diet in which half the calories come from carbohydrates helps to prevent CHD. Carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, grains and sugars. Sugar, in moderation, can make a healthy diet tastier and does not contribute to CHD as fat does.
A three-pronged strategy to keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels low includes weight management, physical activity and a nutritious, balanced diet.
Here are some guidelines to help get you started:
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Consult your physician to begin a diet calling for no more than 30% of calories from fat, less than 10% of calories from saturated fat and less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day. If cholesterol or triglyceride levels remain high, consult a dietitian to further reduce your saturated fat, cholesterol and caloric intake.
- Stop smoking and limit alcohol consumption.
- Begin an exercise program.
This health education material has been favorably reviewed by the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation.
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