Coronary heart disease is characterized by atherosclerosis, which is the clogging and narrowing of the arteries. The heart is then deprived of oxygen, has trouble pumping blood and may mutate. Think of it like what an exertion injury can do to other muscles in your body; causing hardening and scar tissue over time. If your doctor tells you that you have high cholesterol levels or elevated triglycerides, then these are your first clues of metabolic failure. At this point, you will still have a chance of turning your life around before it’s too late!

high cholesterol and heart disease go hand in hand Most people don’t even realize they have it until it’s too late, even though basic medical tests can reveal telltale signs like elevated triglycerides, congestive heart disease and other forms of heart disease. Some people may experience “angina pectoris,” which is the medical term for discomfort, heaviness, aching, burning, numbness or pain in the chest, left shoulder, arms, back or jaw. Often this pain will feel similar to indigestion but won’t occur around meal times. Depending on what kind of angina you’re suffering from, the pain may come after exertion (stable angina), when sleeping and while out in the cold (prinzmetal’s angina) or sometimes even just suddenly while resting (unstable angina). Shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea and sweating often accompany the angina symptoms.

For some people, coronary heart disease seems to run in the family. However, health experts agree that many people are able to live long, healthy lives by following several key preventative measures. “If you smoke, quit,” warns cardiologist Sharonne Hayes of the Women’s Health Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. “That’s the most powerful, preventable risk factor for heart disease.” Additionally, four days per week you should be engaging in 30 minutes of moderate exercise; whether it’s biking, skating, walking, jogging, swimming or aerobics. If you can’t do it all at once, then three ten-minute intervals will show heart health benefits. Limiting saturated, polysaturated, monounsaturated and trans fats are important. By contrast, omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, flaxseed oil and canola oil have proven to be very effective. Furthermore, the importance of reducing your weight and getting regular health exams cannot be overstated.

In a six-year, 2,825-patient study of coronary heart disease patients, new results brought startling realization about the power of positive thinking and recovery. “A negative outlook was an independent predictor of poor outcomes,” said Dr. Redford B. Williams of Duke University Medical Center. “And there seems to be something protective about having a more optimistic attitude that makes you feel that you are going to be ok.” Their 2008-concluded study found that patients who were more pessimistic about recovery were twice as likely to die. Health experts at Duke University agree that meditation, behavior therapy and exercise can be the key to heart health for the most at-risk patients.

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