It is estimated that more than 60 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease and approximately 2600 people die every day from it. Coronary Artery Disease, the most common form of cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of death in America today. But thanks to many studies involving thousands of patients, researchers have found certain factors that play an important role in a person's chances of developing heart disease. These factors are called risk factors, for example, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, overweight (otherwise known as body mass index), and obesity. (Heart Disease Risk Factors, 2003). In addition, researchers also believe that proper dieting is an important step for avoiding some risks factors of coronary artery disease. For instance, making sure your diet is well balanced with lots of fruits and vegetables as well as physical exercise. According to week 5 lecture "to understand the relationship between nutrition and heart disease, you need to consider the risk factors for heart disease and how diet affects those factors- (Lazarre, 2003). .
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ORGANS AFFECTED AND ITS ACTIONS:.
Researchers indicated that Cardiovascular Disease system is made up of the heart and blood vessels. Blood is pumped by the heart and circulated throughout the body through the blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease is the leading health problem in the Western World. It is the number one cause of death in the United States, claiming more that 1 million lives annually. An estimated 60 million Americans are afflicted with heart and blood vessel disease, although many do not know it because they have no symptoms.
The arteries that supply blood to the heart are called the coronary arteries. If the heart's blood vessels narrow, the amount of blood they supply to the heart may be insufficient to provide the oxygen the heart needs. This oxygen deprivation is what causes a type of chest pain known as angina pectoris.