The carotid arteries are located in the front of your neck. They deliver oxygen and nutrients to your brain. When the arteries are blocked, you have a greater risk of suffering a stroke. A stroke can happen when fatty deposits close off the...
Plaque is a substance made of cholesterol, fat, calcium and other substances in blood that build up on the walls of your arteries, reduce blood flow and increase your risk of coronary artery disease, blood clots, heart attack and stroke. Foods...
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats that improve your arterial health. Yet the typical American diet contains too few omega-3 fatty acids and too many omega-6 fatty acids, the healthy fats found in vegetable oils. Eating...
Cholesterol is a thick waxy substance produced by the human body for use in the production of hormones such as estrogen, testosterone and cortisol. It is also used in the formation of bile, which the body uses to break down fatty foods....
Coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. Coronary artery disease is a condition in which fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances in the blood build up inside the coronary arteries, forming plaque. Scientists have...
High blood pressure is commonly referred to as hypertension. As blood pressure rises, the force exerted on blood vessel walls increases. This results in weakening of the vessel walls. Cardiovascular risks include plaque build-up and increased...
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...
The coronary arteries supply your heart muscle with oxygenated blood from your lungs. Coronary heart disease is a chronic condition characterized by a buildup of plaque inside the coronary arteries. The plaque accumulation causes the arteries to...
The heart pumps blood to all parts of the body through the blood vessels. The force exerted by the circulating blood on the vessel walls is called blood pressure. "Fundamentals of Physiology: A Human Perspective" by Lauralee Sherwood states that...
Traditional risk factors for heart disease include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, age and family history of heart disease. Over recent years, nontraditional risks have been identified, particularly those...
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the term angina refers to the chest pain that is symptomatic of coronary artery disease. The main characteristic of coronary artery disease is the accumulation of fatty deposits...
According to the American Heart Association, cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the United States. It is responsible for more than 440,000 of the 2.4 million deaths due to heart disease. Smoking cigarettes...
When the arteries become blocked from blood clots or plaque, the outcome can be deadly. A potentially more serious problem than the narrowing of a coronary artery from plaque or a blood clot is the tendency of plaque to rupture and promote the...
Heart pains while running are usually caused by stable angina, but in more severe cases it could be a heart attack. If you regularly experience heart pains while running, consult with your doctor to check for angina symptoms. If your pains...
Coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), is a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. Plaque is composed of cholesterol, fat and other substances in the blood. CAD begins when damage occurs to the inner layers of...
Coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), is a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. Plaque is composed of cholesterol, fat, calcium and other substances in the blood. If the plaque ruptures, it can form a blood...
Plaque is a substance made up of fat, cholesterol and calcium that builds up in the coronary arteries that supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood, according to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute. A buildup of plaque increases risk of...
The coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood. There are two coronary arteries: the right coronary artery and the left coronary artery. The right coronary artery supplies blood to the right side of the heart, which...
Heart disease is caused by conditions that affect the heart muscle, blood vessels, arteries, valves and the conduction system. Heart disease occurs as a primary condition, for example from a genetic abnormality or a secondary health problem as a...
The typical American diet, which is high in animal-based and processed fats, contributes to a buildup of plaque in the arteries. If you have -- or suspect you have -- buildup of arterial plaque, you should take steps to try to clear it away....
A blockage in the arteries supplying a person's heart muscle with blood develops over a person's lifetime. An inactive lifestyle and high levels of stress increase a person's risk of a blockage. Symptoms of blocked arteries include discomfort or...
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is made in the body and is found in all cells of the body. Cholesterol can also be obtained from the diet. Cholesterol is used in the body to make hormones, vitamin D and substances to aid in...
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number 1 killer in the United States. Heart disease is often caused by buildup of plaque in the arteries which narrows the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart. Plaque...
A strong heart is the key to a long and healthy life. Several conditions can threaten the health of the heart, including heart disease, high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia), hypertension and stroke....
Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic, progressive form of heart disease that results from atherosclerosis, or a buildup of damaging plaque in the arteries found on the surface of the heart.
The risk factors of heart disease can increase as you age, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Men are at greater risk for developing heart disease than women. Other factors for heart disease risk include obesity, diabetes and...
Coronary artery disease, also known as coronary heart disease, results when plaque forms in the coronary arteries (atherosclerosis). The plaque consists mostly of cholesterol and fat, and it restricts blood flow to the heart. However, proper...
Hypertension refers to a condition in which blood pressure is abnormally high. Blood pushes against the walls of the arteries as it travels through them. High blood pressure or hypertension occurs when blood pushes against the arteries with an...
According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center--a nonprofit academic medical center in Los Angeles, California--heart conditions may result from structural disorders, disorders of the heart's electrical signals, cardiac muscle problems or blood...
