Information on What Causes Heart Disease – Part 2

Researchers understand the strong link between smoking and heart disease. In fact more recent research has pointed to the increased risk factors of breathing second hand smoke and heart disease. Second hand smoke contains at least 50 chemicals known to cause cancer. Non-smokers who are exposed at home or work increase their risk of heart disease by 25% and people who have heart disease are at even greater risk. (1)

Doctors spend hours educating families and patients with information on what causes heart disease when they educated patients on how to prevent heart disease. If you smoke, stop. You are killing yourself, your family, your co-workers and your children. Unfortunately, smoking isn’t like over eating where you are affecting only your own health. Smoking affects the health of everyone around you.

Know your blood pressure. People with high blood pressure don’t usually have symptoms so it’s important to have your blood pressure monitored at least yearly. Even when your blood pressure has always been within normal limits as your body ages things can change. High blood pressure puts a greater workload on this 10-ounce pump that delivers over 10,000 beats each day to send oxygenated blood around your body.

Get tested for diabetes. People who suffer from high blood sugar (diabetes) may have no symptoms but this condition will drastically raise your chances of getting heart disease. Your doctor will be able to help you manage this condition so your risk of heart disease decreases.

References:

(1) American Heart Association Circulation: Cardiovascular Effects of Secondhand Smoke

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/111/20/2684.abstract

Resources:

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Causes Heart Disease

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hdw/causes.html

MayoClinic: Heart Diseases

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease/DS01120/DSECTION=causes

CBN News: Cholesterol Myth

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2012/october/cholesterol-myth-what-really-causes-heart-disease/

Seconds Count: Heart and Vascular Disease

http://www.scai.org/SecondsCount/Disease/Default.aspx?gclid=CIXOl56awbYCFc9AMgod_WQAJQ