Cardiovascular Disease
heart disease and strokes cause nearly half of all deaths in America, and severely reduce the quality of life for many people. BothH diseases have the same underlying cause, which is atherosclerosis, a condition in which cholesterol, fat, and calcium harden, narrow, and eventually plug the arteries. This process takes many years and gives virtually no clues until the arteries have 50 to 80 percent blockage.

While there are some risk factors for cardiovascular disease that we can't change, such as age and sex, there are some that we can do something about. According to the Framing-ham Heart Study the six most important modifiable risk factors are high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and physical inactivity.

 

To a great extent, good health is a combination of consuming a sensible, balanced diet and getting plenty of physical activity on a regular basis. Maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle also requires knowledge, and the willingness to change behavior. Understanding the hows and whys of various food and physical activity topics will give you an appreciation for the wonderful machine that is your body and the things you can do to keep it in optimal condition.

This website will provide you with an overview of how to incorporate healthful habits into your daily routine. There are a lot of strategies for an active, healthy lifestyle – don’t try to do everything all at once! If you can turn one or two tips into a habit in a few weeks, then you are on the path to long-term behavior change.