| Asking if I am at risk of heart disease is somewhat of | | | | another factor worth considering just might be |
| a loaded question. After all, it is not unusual to see two | | | | geographic location as it relates to the types foods |
| people who eat the same foods, participate in many | | | | you consume. For examples the old style of southern |
| of the same activities, but yet have entirely different | | | | cooking so popular in the Southern United States |
| health concerns. | | | | consisting of fried fatty foods seem to put their |
| The most likely explanation for this is genetics, and | | | | citizens at greater risk. To drive home this point the |
| there seems to be a growing body of evidence | | | | state of Mississippi has the highest death rate due to |
| suggesting that certain genes can in fact protect a | | | | heart disease of all of the United States. Conversely |
| person from many of the common heart disease risk | | | | western states such as Colorado and California have |
| factors such as high cholesterol. But that is a topic for | | | | some of the lowest. |
| another day. In this article exploring am I at risk of heart | | | | One last point of interest that may just help when |
| disease we I will be focusing more on known facts | | | | asking yourself am I at risk for heart disease. This is to |
| rather than those that are yet unproven. So if you | | | | look at the seven most common risk factors for heart |
| have few minutes why don't we get started. | | | | disease and ask yourself whether you have 2 or |
| The first thing I would like to talk about is ethnicity. We | | | | more of these. They are inactivity, obesity, high blood |
| tend to lump everyone into the same category but for | | | | pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, and |
| a myriad of different reason certain populations tend | | | | diabetes. If you answered yes to two or more of |
| to have a higher incidence of death from heart | | | | these you have almost a 40 percent greater chance |
| disease than others. Three categories where the risk | | | | of having a heart attack than someone who has one |
| of heart attack death seem to be the highest are | | | | or none. |
| whites (27.5), African Americans (25.8), and Hispanics | | | | What else? Some individuals have decided to take a |
| (22.7). While these are important statistics to take into | | | | proactive approach to heart and artery health by |
| account they were compiled a few years ago and | | | | implementing a natural cholesterol reduction |
| since that time there has been a spike in the number | | | | supplement, along with daily exercise, and a diet low in |
| of heart attack deaths in Asian countries. Many | | | | saturated fat. This three step approach has proven to |
| experts attribute this rise in the popularity of cigarette | | | | be a very effective side effect free way to reduce |
| smoking. China is perhaps the best example of this but | | | | the risk of heart disease and improve overall heart |
| it is not the only one. | | | | health naturally. |
| If you are asking yourself am I at risk for heart disease | | | | |