Quick Health Tip - Be Aware Of Cardiovascular Diseases

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the reduction of blood supply to the heart, due to blocking of the arteries. CHD can also lead to atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque within the heart vessels, and are later filled with fat deposits. This can directly cause strokes, heart attacks, or aneurysm (an abnormal dilation of the blood vessel leading to ruptures). Physical activity can help reduce the risk by reducing body fat, blood pressure, and the risk of myocardial ischemia (lack of oxygen to the heart), thrombosis (blood clotting), and cardiac arrhythmia (heart rhythm disturbances and irregularities).

With myocardial ischemia, physical activity promotes coronary adaptions to improved blood flow and circulation, allowing for the transfer of oxygen delivery. With thrombosis, training increases the enzyme activity at the site of the clot and ruptures, which increases the breaking down of those blood clots.

​With atherosclerosis, exercise helps increase liver production of the good HDL cholesterol, which picks up the bad LDL cholesterol and transports them from the wall vessels to the liver to be metabolized.