Hyperlipidemia or High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the body and needed for normal body function. When there is too much cholesterol (taken in from the diet) it is deposited in the walls of the arteries including those around the heart which can lead to narrowing of the arteries and to heart disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease
Overweight and obesity
Overweight and obesity issues are affecting everyone, including children, adolescents, adults, and our elder population. Overall, overweight and obesity strongly affect the different ethnic/racial groups more so than the Whites. Being physically inactive and consuming excess calories can lead to overweight and obesity placing undue stress on the heart and blood vessels. Obese individuals are often at risk of developing type 2 diabetes that potentially damages the blood vessels, heart, eyes, feet, and kidneys.
Stop Brain Attacks: End Stroke
A stroke is when blood flow to your brain stops, and within a few minutes, the brain cells begin to die. A stroke is a medical emergency. There are two kinds of strokes:
Ischemic stroke: Caused by a blood clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain, which is more common
Hemorrhagic stroke: Caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain.
Cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, involves a number of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States affecting African Americans and Mexican Americans at a higher rate. Lifestyle behaviors, called risk factors, increase your risk for cardiovascular disease conditions such as coronary artery disease or “heart attack”, stroke or “brain attack”, and hypertension. Smoking tobacco damages the blood vessels, increasing the risk for developing a “heart attack”. Prevention is key to avoiding these devastating conditions. Change your lifestyle. Eat wholesome nutritious foods, stop smoking, and become more physically active.
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