What causes CHD?
CHD is caused by a thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries. This thickening, called atherosclerosis, narrows the space through which blood can flow, decreasing and sometimes entirely cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Atherosclerosis typically occurs when a person has high levels of cholesterol, a fat-like substance, in the blood. Cholesterol and fat, circulating in the blood, build up on the walls of the arteries. The buildup narrows the arteries and can slow or clog the flow of blood. When the level of cholesterol in the blood is high, there is a higher possibility that it will be buildup onto the artery walls. This progression starts in most people during childhood and the teenage years, and worsens as they get older. As well as to high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking also causes CHD. On the average, each of these doubles your possibility of developing heart disease. Obesity and physical inactivity are other factors that c
CHD is caused by a thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries. This thickening, called atherosclerosis, narrows the space through which blood can flow, decreasing and sometimes completely cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Atherosclerosis usually occurs when a person has high levels of cholesterol, a fat-like substance, in the blood. Cholesterol and fat, circulating in the blood, build up on the walls of the arteries. The buildup narrows the arteries and can slow or block the flow of blood. When the level of cholesterol in the blood is high, there is a greater chance that it will be deposited onto the artery walls. This process begins in most people during childhood and the teenage years, and worsens as they get older. In addition to high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking also contribute to CHD. On the average, each of these doubles your chance of developing heart disease. Therefore, a person who has all three risk factors is eigh
