Heart Disease Causes
- Heart disease can be caused by a number of factors, many of which are related to diet. Heart health depends on certain vitamins and minerals that are often no longer found at proper levels in the foods we eat. Nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, D, B6 (niacin), B12 and coenzyme Q10 are excellent for building strong, healthy hearts. Deficiencies in these and in the minerals magnesium, copper, zinc and selenium can cause damage to the heart by breaking down the cellular integrity and depressing the immune system. These nutrients can be synthesized in the laboratory but they are usually not as easily absorbed into the body as the natural ones are. When the immune system is depressed far enough, infections can get into the heart by many avenues, including tooth decay. Thyroidal conditions often lead to heart disease due to a lack of vitamin A in the system.
- Diabetes often affects the heart's well-being, as well as multitudes of other bodily functions. High blood pressure increases risk of heart disease, sudden heart attacks and strokes. Being overweight can be a contributing factor in heart disease, as it causes the heart to have to work harder to pump the blood adequately. When there is too much low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood, it causes plaque to build up in the arteries, creating a condition called artherosclerosis. This leads to a lack of blood in a portion of the heart muscle, which eventually deadens that area. Arteriosclerosis is when the arterial walls become rigid and inflexible, making it difficult to pump blood to and from the organs.
- Smoking is a serious trauma to the heart as it increases the heart rate dramatically, restricts the arteries and causes an irregular heartbeat. It also raises the blood pressure and leads to a buildup of fat inside the arteries. The chemicals that are inhaled with each puff can do severe damage to the heart and its vascular system and can lead to blood-clotting issues, which are a problem with the already narrowed smoker's arteries. Lack of exercise on top of smoking and a poor diet causes the heart to get sluggish and stiff. It becomes unable to pump blood the way it should. Drinking too much alcohol can also have negative effects on the cardiovascular system by overstimulating or suppressing its natural pumping ability. Exercise speeds up the heart rate, causing the heart to pump more blood, which helps the arteries to expand, allowing the blood to flow more easily.
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