Saturated fats are mostly found in animal products, such as beef, pork, and dairy, but also in coconut oil and palm oil. One review of scientific studies found there was a small but possibly important reduction in the risk of cardiovascular issues when people cut down on saturated fats and replaced them with unsaturated fats. Another review study suggests that people should avoid saturated fats because they increase LDL cholesterol in the body, which is a direct cause of heart issues.
Unsaturated fats are the good fats. They contain HDL cholesterol, which can help to take bad cholesterol from the arteries before it turns into plaque.
According to the AHA, unsaturated fats may help improve blood cholesterol when eaten instead of trans or saturated fats. Drinking teas, such as green or black tea, rooibos tea, or ginger tea may be good heart-healthy substitutes for other beverages. A study from found that drinking 6 cups of rooibos tea per day for 6 weeks helped to lower the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood in adults who were at risk for heart diseases.
Green tea can also help. A review reported that green tea and its extracts could lower LDL cholesterol in the blood, though this did not affect HDL cholesterol. Ginger supplementation may also improve significant markers that can lead to cardiovascular events, according to a study. Ginger root can be found as a supplement, but people can also brew it in hot water, and drink it as a tea. A range of herbal teas is available for purchase online. Obesity is a risk factor for plaque buildup and heart disease.
In addition to eating a healthful diet, regularly exercising may help a person to lose weight and reduce their risk of heart problems. Taking part in cardiovascular exercise, otherwise known as cardio, on a regular basis may also help strengthen the heart and reduce plaque. A person should aim to do 30 to 60 minutes of exercise that raises the heart rate for a good workout. A doctor may recommend a specific exercise routine to fit an individual, based on various lifestyle factor. Stop smoking.
According to the AHA, smoking is a major risk factor. It directly damages the arteries and can make fatty deposits grow faster and become larger. Stress reduction. Psychological stress levels may also cause a reaction in the body. Stress-reduction techniques, including yoga , meditation, or breathing exercises may help some people relax during a hectic day. When prevention methods are not effective, a person may need medical intervention to try and alleviate the effects of clogged arteries.
A doctor may recommend medications to lower LDL cholesterol to use alongside dietary changes. These actions should be seen as an additional help rather than as solutions. Similarly, a blocked artery may require surgical treatment. The suggested new system has five stages, which, Zadeh acknowledges, depend far more heavily on cardiac CT or MRI rather than stress testing. Stage 1 would be considered mild heart disease, in which one to two blood vessels may be blocked less than 30 percent.
Stage 2 is defined as moderate heart disease, with blockage between 30 and 49 percent in one to two vessels, or mild blockage in three blood vessels. At stage 3, a person would be considered to have severe heart disease, meaning one to two coronary arteries show more than 50 percent narrowing of the vessels diameter, or three blood vessels are moderately blocked in the 30 to 49 percent range.
Very severe heart disease, or stage 4, has three or more vessels with over 50 percent blockage. Based on data from the U. The risks in these stages were established by coronary angiography from both cardiac catheterization and noninvasive CT scanning data. In the U. We are providing it with the understanding that it will be used only to help illustrate the story in the corresponding news release. If there is anything else you need, please email us at JHMedia jhmi.
Thank you. View Files. Contact us or find a patient care location. That sounded good. Fred followed through with the scan and the score turned out to be quite high. When they met to discuss the findings, Sadlo asked Fred if he ever had any symptoms of heart disease, like chest pain. More: Minimally invasive procedures help hearts heal — stat. More: Stephanie Hill recalls stroke, how she was saved. More: Excess salt intake harms more than blood pressure. As Fred thought about it, at first he said no.
Then he recalled what he figured was a minor incident hardly worth mentioning. When the elevator in his building was out of service, he quickly climbed six flights of stairs and in the process experienced some tightness in his chest. Pain in the chest, and particularly tightness, can be a prime indicator of cardiac involvement and a symptom of heart disease. On the other hand, chest pain can be caused by a number of factors unrelated to the heart.
Sure enough, there were major problems that needed to be addressed. Fred had severe atherosclerosis, narrowing his coronary arteries, and it required immediate attention in the form of coronary artery bypass surgery. The way things played out, a strong case can be made that the coronary calcium scan was instrumental in saving Fred from a heart attack, and it possibly saved his life.
Reach Bryant Stamford, a professor of kinesiology and integrative physiology at Hanover College in Indiana, at stamford hanover. Facebook Twitter Email. Heart health check-up: Most people have clogged arteries and don't know it is this you? If you consume unhealthy foods in excess and avoid exercise, your arteries could be in trouble. Show Caption. Hide Caption.
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