What causes high cholesterol levels?
What is “good” and “bad” cholesterol?
How does blood pressure increase?
Does smoking really cause heart disease?
What are the risk factors for heart attack?
What causes high cholesterol levels?
A lack of exercise and a diet rich with saturated fats contribute to high blood cholesterol. Some diseases, such as kidney, thyroid, or liver disorders, increase cholesterol. And a lot of people simply have a genetic inability to handle cholesterol, and no matter how much they watch their diet and exercise, they will still need medication to manage their cholesterol.
What is “good” and “bad” cholesterol?
LDL is bad or “lethal” cholesterol. It can contribute to the formation of plaque buildup in the arteries. HDL is good or “healthy” cholesterol. It’s a type of fat in the blood that helps to remove cholesterol from the blood, preventing the fatty buildup and formation of plaque. Both low levels of HDL and high levels of LDL contribute to development of coronary artery disease.
How does blood pressure increase?
Lack of exercise, being overweight, and excessive salt in the diet can cause blood pressure to increase. Blood pressure increases in almost everyone as they age. Some people have high blood pressure due to a genetic predisposition, despite living a healthy lifestyle.
Does smoking really cause heart disease?
Yes. Smokers have an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and oral cancer – along with increased risk of lung disease and other conditions. There are literally hundreds of good reasons to quit smoking today.
What are the risk factors for heart attack?
These are the risk factors that can't be changed:
- Increasing age
- Male gender
- Heredity (including race)
These are risk factors you can modify by changing your lifestyle or taking medicine:
- Smoking
- High blood cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity and being overweight
- Diabetes
- High levels of stress
