Causes of Heart Disease

By Irasema Tirado

Heart diseases affect so many people that it has become a serious concern for medical science. The heart is a complex organ that is vulnerable to hereditary as well as environment risks. Cardiologists think of these risk factors as either major or minor causes of heart disease. There are 5 major causes and 3 minor causes.

The first major cause of heart disease is the family history; you are at a higher risk for developing heart disease if your parent or your grandparents have had it. The second major cause is high blood pressure; this one causes the heart to work too hard and can damage arteries. The third major cause is high cholesterol levels; this is dangerous because fatty deposits build up in blood vessels. The fourth major cause is Diabetes; this one can lead to hardening of the arteries and heart attack. The last major cause of heart disease is smoking cigarettes; smokers are two or three times more likely to have a heart attack than nonsmokers.

The first minor cause of heart disease is being a type “A” personality, which means that you are easy stressed, competitive, aggressive, and intense. The second cause is having a sedentary lifestyle; this is when you don’t do enough exercise. The third and last minor cause is obesity. Obesity is a person who is extremely overweight and doesn’t have a good diet.

After knowing the major and minor causes of heart diseases the only thing we can do is avoid the facts that put in risk you heart. To lessen the risks of heart disease are: Don’t smoke. Nicotine raises your blood pressure because it causes your body to release adrenaline, which makes your blood vessels constrict and your heart beat faster. Control your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor can suggest ways to lower it. If you're taking medicine for high blood pressure, be sure to take it just the way your doctor tells you to. Do exercise. Regular exercise can make your heart stronger and reduce your risk of heart disease. Eat a healthy diet. Add foods to your diet that are low in cholesterol and saturated fats, because your body turns saturated fats into cholesterol. Try to keep in clam. Remember that if you are aggressive, intense, stressful and competitive help to have a heart diseases.