by D. P. Noe

Created on: February 03, 2010

Preventing heart disease involves looking at your risks factors and making changes to your lifestyle. If you recognize certain behaviors are risk factors for increasing your chance of heart disease and make changes, you may delay the onset of heart disease.

SMOKING

Smoking is your number one risk for developing heart disease. That cigarette you are inhaling damages your heart. It is a well known fact that if you choose to smoke, you have twice the risk for developing heart disease than a nonsmoker. Cigarettes have chemicals known as carbon monoxide and nicotine. When you are inhaling a cigarette and inhale carbon monoxide, it makes it harder for your body to get oxygen. Nicotine constricts your blood vessels which means your vessels becomes smaller. When your vessels are constricted, the heart has to work harder to circulate your blood throughout your body. Nicotine has the effect of increasing your heart rate and raising your blood pressure. Smoking is known as a controllable risk factor because there are things you can do to eliminate this risk factor. There are significant resources available to you to help your quit this habit if you are serious about reducing your chances of developing heart disease.

DIABETES

Diabetes is known as a severe risk factor for increasing your chance of developing heart disease.  Diabetics have excess sugar in their bloodstream. Excess sugar in the bloodstream has a negative affect on blood vessels and significantly increases your chances of developing arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis is where you have a build up of what is known as plaque on your blood vessels. Ateriosclerosis causes a narrowing of your blood vessels which makes the heart work harder to circulate your blood. If you are diabetic, it is extremely vital to keep your blood sugar in control by taking your medications as prescribed and adding a regular exercise program to your daily lifestyle. Diabetics need to follow a low fat and low sugar diet and really get involved in understanding the importance of keeping your sugar under control.

ELEVATED CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

When you have too much fat and cholesterol in your blood stream, you have a build up of fats. This built up of fats causes the blood vessels to become thick and narrower. This causes the heart to work harder to circulate your blood and oxygen that is needed by all your organs in your body.  It is advised to keep your total cholesterol

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