According to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. It is also a major cause of disability. There are many different forms of heart disease. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. It’s the major reason people have heart attacks.

Nutrition significantly influences coronary artery disease because dietary fats are stored in the linings of arteries.

Fatty build-ups within arterial walls may lead to a narrowed artery. This leads to significantly increased risk of heart attack.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Blood pressure is one of the key detectors of vascular narrowing. High blood pressure indicates that the heart is working harder for some reason. Narrowing of the arteries because of plaque is usually the cause of high blood pressure.

There are surgical interventions, such as angioplasty, to prevent potential heart failure. There are also medications that can be prescribed to lower blood pressure. However, if high blood pressure is diagnosed a patient will be advised to change dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors such as increased exercise and/or quitting smoking.