What Disease Is The Common Cause Of Heart Problem?
Heart – the body engine room that works ceaselessly, beating 100,000 times a day, 40 million times a year to keep us alive. This strongest muscle is responsible to pump life-sustaining blood all over the body by supplying oxygen and nutrients and removing harmful wastes.
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Cardiovascular diseases are undoubtedly the leading cause of death worldwide and certainly in Malaysia. The most common cause is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries.
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What is Coronary Artery Disease?
CAD starts with a condition known as atherosclerosis where the walls of arteries become thick and stiff due to the build up of plaque over many years. Over time, plaque can harden or rupture that lead to reduction of the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It the plaque ruptures, the plaque may mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery. Consequently, CAD can weaken heart muscle and lead to heart failure and arrhythmias. There are many risk factors that associated with CAD. It can be classified into modifiable risk factors and non-modifiable risk factors.
Non-modifiable risk factors
Age > 55 years old
Family history of cardiovascular disease
Man are at greater risk of heart disease
Modifiable risk factors
Hypertensive patient
People living with Type 2 Diabetes
Physical inactivity
Tobacco use
Diet high in saturated fat
Abnormal blood lipid profile
high level of total cholesterol;
high level of triglycerides;
high level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL);
low level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL)
Dietary habit plays an important role in the development and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
According to World Heart Federation, there is a 73% reduction in the risk of new major cardiac events for a diet low in saturated fats, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables if compared to typical diet of someone living in the developed world.
Follow our next following post for tips to maintain a healthy heart!
