Heart Disease
Helping the West Coast & Hawaii fight heart disease
The heart is often used as the symbol of love and life, and with good reason. This muscle is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body, providing organs and tissue with the oxygen they need to function properly. All the veins and arteries in the body lead back to the heart one way or another, which means that these need to keep in good condition for the heart to function properly.
The typical lifestyle in the United States is not a heart-healthy one. Poor diet and lack of exercise have a terrible effect on the cardiovascular system. As a result, heart disease has become the number one cause of death in the United States. The Adventist Health team is here to help you fight this disease and recover from serious cardiac events such as a heart attack or stroke.
Taking action against heart disease
Heart disease is actually a category of conditions that affect the heart. Most of these diseases are caused by a condition known as atherosclerosis. Your arteries need to be wide open and smooth for blood to pass freely. A cholesterol and fat-heavy diet causes buildup of a waxy substance in the arteries referred to as plaque. Atherosclerosis is a dangerous buildup of artery plaque. Artery plaque can cause blood clots which cease blood flow to the heart or brain, which are what cause heart attacks and strokes, respectively.
Several factors contribute to the buildup of artery plaque, including:
- Smoking
- Diet high in red meat and sugar
- High cholesterol diets
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Stress
- Lack of fruits and vegetables in diet
- Excess drinking
- Lack of physical activity
Most people are unaware that they have artery plaque. The condition does not have any noticeable symptoms until an event occurs, which is part of what makes it so dangerous. Our cardiologists can measure your cholesterol and blood pressure so you can know your risk factors and take appropriate action.