Heart Disease - Heart Attacks
Heart disease is the UK's biggest killer. More than 110,000 people die from coronary heart disease every year, with double that number experiencing non-fatal heart attacks because of the disease. But what's really worrying is that in most cases heart disease is completely preventable!
The prime cause of heart disease is a build up of fatty materials, called low-density lipoproteins or LDL cholesterol, in the arteries. LDL cholesterol is a thick porridge-like substance that sticks to the artery lining. Where it does stick, blood flow through the artery becomes restricted, so putting a strain on the heart muscle. Over time, the substances thicken and harden, creating what is known as 'plaques' along the artery walls. This prevents nutrients from keeping the arteries themselves healthy, so accelerating the problem and putting even more pressure on the heart. If several of the main arteries become restricted, blood pressure increases, together with the risk of having a heart attack.
The presence of high LDL cholesterol levels is all down to the food we eat. Foods high in saturated and hydrogenated fats increase our LDL cholesterol levels, so kicking off a chain of events that can lead to heart disease. Eating foods that are low in these types of fat is essential if we want to maintain a healthy heart.
For more information on heart disease please review the resources on our site.
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