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Introduction to Heart Disease	Tests for Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary Heart Disease	Healthy Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Levels
Risk Factors for CHD	Homocysteine and Cardiovascular Health
What Is Coronary Heart Disease?	Heart Function Self-Test
What Causes Coronary Heart Disease?	See your medical doctor when
The Symptoms Of Coronary Heart Disease	Types of Heart Disease
Conventional Treatments for Heart Disease	Common Sense Care for Heart Disease
Benefits of Co Enzyme Q-10 Supplementation in Cardiovascular Health
American Heart Association's Dietary Guidelines for Heart Diseases and Stroke
Alternative and Complementary Medicine

What Causes Coronary Heart Disease?

Coronary heart disease is caused by a thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries. This thickening, called atherosclerosis, narrows the space through which blood can flow, decreasing and sometimes completely cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Atherosclerosis usually occurs when a person has high levels of cholesterol, a fat-like substance, in the blood. Cholesterol and fat, circulating in the blood, build up on the walls of the arteries. The buildup narrows the arteries and can slow or block the flow of blood. When the level of cholesterol in the blood is high, there is a greater chance that it will be deposited onto the artery walls. This process begins in most people during childhood and the teenage years, and worsens as they get older.

In addition to high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking also contribute to coronary heart disease. On the average, each of these doubles your chance of developing heart disease. Therefore, a person who has all three risk factors is eight times more likely to develop heart disease than someone who has none. Obesity and physical inactivity are other factors that can lead to coronary heart disease. Overweight increases the likelihood of developing high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, and physical inactivity increases the risk of heart attack. Regular exercise, good nutrition, and smoking cessation are key to controlling the risk factors for coronary heart disease.