LDL Cholesterol is known as bad cholesterol. It has a tendency to increase the risk of heart disease. This type of cholesterol is a major component of the plaque that clogs arteries.

HDL Cholesterol is known as the good cholesterol. Higher in women, increases with exercise. This cholesterol helps carry some of the bad cholesterol out of our arteries.

Obesity

People who are overweight (10 – 30% more than their normal body weight) have 2 – 6 times the risk of developing heart disease.

Apples and Pears – apple shaped are at a higher risk due to the fact that the paunch stores body fat around the abdomen and chest, surrounding internal organs. Pear shaped paunch stores fat on the hips and thighs, just below the surface of the skin.

PHYSICAL INACTIVITY

Most people, their brain regularly tells them to exercise and their body laughs at the idea!

 SMOKING

Smoking increases blood pressure and decreases HDL (the good cholesterol). It also damages arteries and blood cells and increases heart attacks. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals and 200 of these chemicals are poisonous!

If you think you are smoking the cigarette, you are mistaken… it’s the other way around!

THOUGHT! - Thousands of people stop smoking each day – by dying!!!!

See the main causes of heart disease here

Alcohol Consumption

In small amounts it is beneficial = 1 – 2 drinks. In large amounts it adds fat and calories and raises blood pressure! If you have 4 drinks each day, you will end up with gastroenterologist instead of cardiologist. This is a very fine line and finer for women as they are at higher risk.

Diabetes

At any given cholesterol level, diabetic people have a 2 or 3 times higher risk of heart attack or stroke. A diabetic is more likely to die of a heart attack than a non-diabetic. Approximately 80% of diabetics die from heart disease and the risk of sudden death from a heart attack for a diabetic is the same as that of someone who has already had a heart attack!

Every day we make choices to try to help protect ourselves and our family. In fact, protecting ourselves has become second nature – we just do it without thinking!

But… do you know what you can do to help protect yourself from this number 1 cause of death – Heart Disease?

For your car, you obviously want the best mechanic!

But for your body, you follow hearsay and advice from friends, colleagues, just about anyone!!