Cardiovascular Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Approximately one million Americans die from CVD each year. Cardiovascular disease encompasses a variety of diagnoses. It includes peripheral vascular disease; cardiomyopathy (an infection causing a weakening of the heart muscle), congestive heart failure, hypertension, and stroke. Twenty-five percent of all deaths from cardiovascular disease are a result of coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is a disease of the arteries, particularly the coronary arteries. The primary cause is atherosclerosis, a thickening of the arterial walls due to plaque caused when the inner lining of the artery is damaged. This damage can be caused by chemicals in cigarette smoking, increased pressure experienced in hypertension, and elevated cholesterol, insulin and blood sugar levels. The best defense against heart disease is to adopt a prudent lifestyle consisting of an aerobic exercise program (including resistance training to control weight), a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and not smoking.
