Ayurveda & Heart: Human beings are at risk

Coronary heart disease is caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries that feed the heart. Many deaths caused by coronary heart diseases could be prevented because coronary heart disease is related to certain aspects of lifestyle. Risk factors for coronary heart disease include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity and physical inactivity – all of which can be controlled. Controlling risk factors remains the key to preventing illness and death from coronary heart disease.

Risk Factors For Coronary Heart Disease

Risk factors are conditions that increase your risk of developing heart disease. Although these factors each increase the risk of coronary heart disease, they do not describe all the causes of coronary heart disease. These risk factors are classified in three categories:

1. Risk Factors That Cannot Be Changed:

• Heredity – The tendency to develop heart attack seems to run in families

• Sex: Men are at greater risk than women

• Race: Black Americans have a 45 percent greater chance of developing C.D. than whites. Another study found that people with oriental origin who migrated to the USA have a higher incidence of heart disease than the general population. South Indians are more Prone to CHD tha
North Indians.

• Age: Risk increases with age.

• Major Risk Factors That Can Be Changed:

• Cigarette Smoking: increases risk by 70 percent

• High Blood Pressure: major risk for heart attack and stroke

• Blood Cholesterol levels: High levels increases risk

• Diabetes: increases risk of heart attack

• High blood pressure.

• High blood cholesterol (Higher than 200)

• Low HDL Cholesterol (Less than 35)

• Overweight

• Diet: Eating more than 3 eggs a week, Eating red meats everyday.

• Major Risk Factors That Can Be Changed:

• Obesity: contributes to high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels

• Lack of Exercise: can lead to obesity

• Diet: Eating more than 3 eggs a week, Eating red meats everyday.

• Stress: Contributes to high blood pressure. This had been shown to be significant contributing factor in the recent studies. It is believed that, under stress, the body can produce hormones that encourage the production of LDL, so called bad cholesterol that can accelerate heart disease. Anxiety and stress can cause narrowing of the arteries with a resultant increase in blood pressure. This also can adversely affect proneness to heart disease