No matter how amazing the human heart is, without proper care and attention, it remains vulnerable to breakdown and disease. Causes of heart disease may differ in nature and severity. It may be due to infections, genetic inheritance, or other uncontrollable and preventable factors. While some problems may be fleeting, inconvenient, or slow-developing, others can be chronic, sudden, or even fatal.



Lack of exercise, smoking, and a poor diet are considered as risk factors for heart disease. Inactivity or lack of exercise makes people twice as likely to have heart disease as active people. It is also associated with obesity, increased blood pressure, increased risk of diabetes and high cholesterol. Experts have warned that failure to exercise can be as bad for health as smoking a packet of cigarettes every day. An estimated 65 percent to 85 percent of the world's population fail to take enough exercise.

Smoking poses a higher risk of developing several chronic disorders such as fatty build-ups in arteries (atherosclerosis), several types of cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to the high rates of deaths from smoking. Several studies have shown that cigarette smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack. Hardened smokers need the support of their families, friends, colleagues and even doctors to wean themselves off nicotine-addiction.

For some people, changing over to a healthy diet can be a major feat. They have this notion of resigning to a life of vegetables and abstinence from chips and chocolates. Nutritionists agree that it may be hard to overcome the almost-lifetime habits of eating and that gradual but progressive change may work better. For instance, one can start by switching from full fat to semi-skimmed milk without affecting taste preference --- a simple choice that has major health benefits. There is also no need to abstain from your favorite desserts as long as it does not become a staple part of your diet or if it is only taken in proper dessert-sized amounts.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation, there are five main areas of diet which can prevent coronary heart disease: cholesterol, blood pressure, healthy weight, blood clots, and fiber.

Cholesterol is a lipid or molecule that is used as part of the structural building blocks that compose a cell membrane. Since cholesterol can be both good and bad, it's important to know the difference, how it affects health and how to manage blood cholesterol.

Genetic conditions related to poor cardio-vascular health may be exacerbated by excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and too much salt intake. Not many people know that the single largest source of dietary salt is bread. Processed food are also high in salt and other chemical-based preservatives. For these reasons, the British Nutrition Foundation advises against adding any extra salt to food since most already contain fairly high quantities of the said condiment. Research has shown that consumption of foods high in potassium such as bananas and potatoes also help lower blood pressure.

Obesity increases the risk of heart disease. Physical activity can reduce the risk of high blood pressure caused by constricted arteries. The way the fat is deposited around the body can also affect the risk.

People with pear-shaped figures are those with most of their fat deposited around the hips, while apple-shaped figures have most of their fat deposited around the stomach. Women are more likely to be pear-shaped and run less of a risk of suffering a heart attack than men who tend to be apple-shaped.

Blood clots causes a heart attack when it blocks or stem the blood flow. Food that contain chemicals, such as omega fatty acids found in naturally oily fish like mackerel, sardines and salmon, help prevent blood clotting and protect against heart disease.

Fiber-rich foods, such as oats, pasta, potatoes and bread, are known to reduce blood cholesterol levels and may therefore reduce the risk of heart disease.

The good news is that the death rate is declining steadily by about 40% due largely to improved medical care and widespread public education about risk factors.