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Heart disease is the collective term for a series of coronary conditions. It is the most common type of death in North America, followed closely by cancer. Some heart conditions are acquired at birth, but the majority are attained throughout the course of your life. The following are three very common heart conditions which you can prevent:

ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Overvie w - Atherosclerosis is essentially a buildup of cholesterol within your arteries. This assemblage of cholesterol creates what is called plaque. This plaque causes your artery walls to harden and narrow, restricting the flow of blood through that point.

Symptoms - There are generally no symptoms for atherosclerosis, until the buildup reaches a critical size. Once the plaque congests a large part of a major artery, the person may feel severe chest pain (angina).

Causes - Atherosclerosis is generally caused by poor choices in diet. These poor choices often include foods high in saturated and trans fat. These fats drastically increase the amount of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in your blood. This type of cholesterol is very sticky, and is what causes the plaque buildups. Smoking also causes plaque buildup within the arteries.

Diagnosis - An angiography is required to diagnose atherosclerosis.

Treatment - Often times, the only treatment required is a change in your lifestyle. These changes include regular exercise, proper diet, and decreased alcohol/nicotine consumption. There are also medications available that reduce cholesterol levels. In extreme cases, surgery may be the only solution. If this is the case, an angioplasty would be needed.

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

Overview - Congestive heart failure is a condition which affects the pumping strength of your heart. The contractions of your heart weaken, and your body is unable to acquire sufficient oxygen or nutrients. This can also lead to an excessive amount of fluids building up in your lungs which can lead to acute pulmonary edema, decreasing the ability for your body to exchange gases (O2 - CO2).

Symptoms - Luckily, there are many symptoms for congestive heart failure, which may help with a diagnosis. You may experience weight gain, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, fatigue, or swelling in the ankles and legs.

Causes - Congestive heart failure can be caused by many things. It may be caused by poor blood flow for an elongated period of time. This decreased blood flow is generally caused by plaque buildups. It may also be caused by a long period

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