How Does Heart Disease Affect the Body

How does heart disease affect the body? Learn how this health issue wreaks havoc on the bodies of people every single day. 

How does heart disease affect the body? As heart disease is a leading cause of death, it's crucial that you understand what causes this disease and what treatment options are available to help you stay healthy.

What is heart disease?
Heart disease is generally a result of damage to the blood vessel or to your heart by atherosclerosis-a condition that occurs when your arteries have a buildup of fatty plaques. That pressure to your arteries can restrict blood flow to your tissues and organs. This can be a result of a sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet, smoking or being overweight.

What does heart disease do to your body?
Heart disease can affect your body in a number of different ways. But here are two of the most frequent issues:

• Because plaque on the artery walls can block the blood vessels, the normal flow of blood to the body is stopped. This can cause damage to major organs including the kidneys, lungs, heart and brain.
• The plaque buildup could block an artery in your arm or leg, sometimes causing an inability to move the extremity or a blood clot could form and travel to your heart resulting in cardiac arrest.

What heart disease treatment can help?
Get rid of the risk factors. See your doctor regularly to monitor your cholesterol levels, weight and any other health issues like high blood pressure that could put you at risk. If you have some of these issues, your doctor can help you make healthy changes. For example, if you have high cholesterol, a diet low in fat can help you reduce bad cholesterol. If you have high blood pressure, you may need to reduce your sodium intake.