Atherosclerotic heart disease is a disorder of the blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. It is considered a form of cardiovascular disease which, along with other types of heart disease such as abnormal heart rhythms,...
The heart performs the life-sustaining function of pumping oxygen-rich blood to the body tissues. Many types of heart problems can occur, including structural defects, blood vessel-related damage and rhythm abnormalities. Heart problems can affect...
Cholesterol readings include LDL and HDL levels. The "bad" cholesterol is the LDL, or low density lipoprotein. The HDLs---high density lipoproteins---are called "good cholesterol" because they remove fatty deposits from the artery walls.
After being largely replaced by margarine as a staple of the American diet in the mid 20th century, butter is making a comeback. Although butter is a discretionary part of any nutrition plan, its nutritional content may be a consideration as you...
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for good health, but they cannot be made by the cells of the body. You must get them from sources such as fish, nuts, soy, canola oil and tofu. They lower triglyceride levels and blood pressure, prevent...
Prawns are a shrimp-like shellfish in the biological group of marine animals known as the decapods. Despite some anatomical differences between true shrimp and prawns, these closely related creatures are nearly identical from a nutritional...
You may feel almost helpless at times, trying to resist the ubiquitous temptation to indulge in greasy food. Whether your favorite guilty pleasure is French fries, cheeseburgers, pizza, fried chicken, bacon, potato chips or nachos, you probably...
Lipids, more commonly known as fats, are critically important to the structure and function of the human body. Every cell of the body contains lipids, and virtually all body functions directly or indirectly involve lipids. Many different types of...
"Citrus" refers to a large genus of flowering plants that are cultivated globally for their fruit. Oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes and tangerines have all been featured in diets and medicinal practices of various cultures since far back in...
Preventing atherosclerosis, or clogged arteries, can keep you from suffering strokes or heart attacks to ultimately live longer. Conditions such as high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure contribute to the buildup of plaque within arteries,...
There are several types of heart disease. Among these types are the diseases that affect your heart's arteries, its muscle layer, as well as the membrane that covers it. The term coronary arteries refers to the arteries of your heart. The muscle...
Spina bifida, a congenital defect involving the spinal canal, can result in paralysis and weight gain. According to 2009 report by the Spina Bifida Association, after age six, 50 percent of children, adolescents and adults with spina bifida are...
Pharmaceutical companies bringing a new prescription drug to market typically patent the medication, giving the developer exclusive rights to sell the drug for a set period of time. After the patent expires, other drug manufacturers are permitted...
High cholesterol puts patients at risk for a variety of health complications, including heart disease, which is the United States' leading cause of death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says that 16.3 percent...
Calcium that builds up in the arteries can restrict blood flow to vital organs. Understanding what leads to calcium deposits in the arteries is important for reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack and peripheral artery disease, which can claim...
Cholesterol serves many important functions in your body. Many hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, are produced from cholesterol. Cholesterol-rich bile also helps your body digest and absorb fat-soluble vitamins and other...
Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which progressive scarring of lung tissue develops and permanently impairs lung function. It is currently thought that chronic damage to the lung tissue (such as from smoking) results in the formation of the...
A cholesterol test lets you know the levels of fats in your blood. This can help you reduce your risk for coronary artery disease, stroke or other cardiovascular disease. The test measures different types of cholesterol and triglycerides. The...
Some plants and herbs help thin the blood naturally, meaning they increase water content and slow clotting. Some medical conditions, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, require taking prescription blood thinners like warfarin. People...
Hardening of the arteries, also known as arteriosclerosis, is a stiffening of the blood vessels that transport blood and nutrients throughout the body. Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis that results from fat accumulating and hardening...
Triglycerides are a type of fat found circulating in the blood stream. The American Heart Association explains that they are taken into the body through the diet. They are consumed with the fat that we eat, and any excess calories that are not...
Cleveland Clinic states that coronary artery disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States in men. Coronary artery disease, or CAD, is caused by the development of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries that feed the heart muscle....
Coronary atherosclerotic disease, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), is a serious medical condition where the blood vessels in your heart are infiltrated with fatty deposits called plaque. According to the Mayo Clinic, plaque can cause...
Sodium ascorbate is a more bioavailable form of vitamin C that serves various health benefits and helps to treat certain medical conditions. According to Regenerative Nutrition, taking sodium ascorbate regularly helps to renew your body's collagen...
The American Heart Association states that in 2006, there were 5,800,000 people in the United States with heart failure. Heart failure is an end-stage disease, where a sick heart that can no longer keep up with the demands of the body. The heart...
The arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body tissues. Arterial walls have elastic fibers, which normally stretch in rhythm with the heartbeat. Arteriosclerosis encompasses a group of disorders that cause thickening and...
According to MayoClinic, heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the world. In the United States, 40 percent of deaths occur because of heart disease. The symptoms of heart disease occur because the heart does not effectively...
Atherosclerotic plaques in the small coronary arteries cause heart disease. When cholesterol deposits build up in the coronary arteries they cause atherosclerotic blockages. The number 1 cause of death in the United States is heart disease caused...
Heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart is blocked. It can be caused by atherosclerosis, a condition where fatty substances or plaque build up in the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. If a piece of plaque breaks away, it can...
