Cardiovascular Disease - Signs - Symptoms

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US. It is one of the four leading causes of US fatalities that have been directly linked to diet.

Specifically, diseases affecting the heart and circulatory system are related to deficiencies in certain nutrients and excessive intake of others. By definition, that is an imbalanced diet.

Excessive intakes of all of the following are associated with circulatory diseases:

• Saturated fat
• Omega-6 fats
• Trans-fats, which are man-made, non-essential and are not a part of any healthy eating plan
• Salt/sodium

In addition, diets that are high in processed foods and simple sugars can lead to type II diabetes. People with type II diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) diseases.

Inadequate intakes of any of the following can increase a person's risk of heart attack, stroke and other circulatory issues:

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Potassium
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Folate/folic acid
• B-complex vitamins
• Magnesium
• Selenium

In truth, chronic inadequate intake of any essential nutrient or trace element can lead to cardiovascular disease. A general lack of fruits and vegetables in the American diet is another problem, because fruits and vegetables provide fiber and phytochemicals important for circulatory health.

Years ago, just following WWII, the US government realized that heart attacks were killing an increasingly large number of people in the US. After Eisenhower had a heart attack while he was in office, the government decided to sponsor scientific research concerning the causes and risk factors of heart attack. These same causes and risk factors were eventually related to stroke and other circulatory issues, as well.

The research has not stopped. It has been ongoing for decades. Doctors have closely followed all of the residents of a single small town, recording information about what they eat and other lifestyle factors. Smoking cigarettes was one of the first causes identified. It was relatively easy to see the connection there, but there were still many questions to be answered.

To date, the causes and risk factors of cardiovascular disease that have been identified through this ongoing research include:

• High LDL coupled with low LDL cholesterol
• High blood triglycerides
• High blood pressure
• Type II diabetes
• Obesity
• Family history (sometimes due to genetics, sometimes due to the family diet)
• Physical inactivity
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Stress

Many of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are related to each other and all except for the last four have been directly linked to unhealthy diet. Even stress can be reduced with a healthy eating plan, while an unhealthy eating plan can increase stress in the body.

Sadly, there may be no symptoms until a person has a heart attack or a stroke. This is why high blood pressure is called the silent killer.

Regular medical check-ups are essential to monitor the first four risk factors, although prescription medications may not be the right choice for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. In my next article, you will learn about the ways to reduce your risk and possibly prevent these deadly diseases naturally.

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