Understanding Causes of Cardiovascular Disease
Child Atherosclerosis & Womens' Heart Disease Diet Studies
Oct 30, 2009
According to a study by the Institute of Emergency Medical Assistance, “Atherosclerosis is a pathological condition that begins in early childhood..." The purpose of the study was to monitor cardiovascular risk factors in school children including atherosclerosis. An American Heart Association study provides data about diet and cardiovascular risks for women.
The Mosby’s Medical Dictionary defines cardiovascular disease as “any one of a number of abnormal conditions that involve dysfunction of the heart and blood vessels.” These dysfunctions include hypertension, atherosclerosis, vascular, hypertensive and coronary heart disease.
The findings of the Institute of Emergency Medical Assistance, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, dated August 9, 2009, is published on the PubMed website. 214 children ages 7 to 15 years were studied. The evaluation included:
- Weight of children
- Blood pressure readings
- Lipid (fats and fatty substances) status
- Dietary habits
- Amount of physical activity
- Sedentary (lack of exercise) habits
Childhood Obesity Facts & Vascular Disease Causes
The Institute study found determined the following cardiovascular disease causes and risk factors:
- 21.96% of the children studied had one cardiovascular risk factor
- 11.68% had two risk factors
- 7.94% had three or more risk factors
- 20 of the 214 had childhood obesity
- 4.67% had hypertension
- 8.87% had high LDL cholesterol
- 1.40% had high triglycerides
- 21.02% ate high fat diets
- 19.62% were exercise inactive
The Institute study conclusion was that “a large number” of the study group had one or more cardiovascular risk factors that can cause “premature atherosclerosis.” The article suggested that more screening of cardiovascular risks factors, and encouraging school children to get proper exercise and eat health diets “...can reduce premature clinical sequels in the atherosclerotic process.”
Women Heart Disease Study and Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
The American Heart Association (AHA) conducted a study of American nurses (women) to determine the cardiovascular disease, and cancer risks from “dietary patterns.” The study (author unknown) article, dated July 7,2008, is titled “Dietary Patterns and Risk of Mortality from Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and All Causes in a Prospective Cohort of Women.”
The nurses' study article is published on the AHA website. The article states, “this is the largest and most definitive study ever...[and] demonstrates that there is a connection between a diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fish [leads to] a longer, healthier life.” The study concluded that “Eating a diet lower in red meat and refined carbohydrates...is associated with a longer, healthier life.”
Healthy Low Fat Diet Advice
The nurses' study article web page contains a link to the full study. On this same page is a link titled, “Our Diet and Life-style Recommendations.” The AHA recommendations include facts about healthy calorie intake, which foods are best for heart health, sugar intake, alcohol and tobacco dangers, and the benefits of regular exercise.
According to the Institute of Emergency Medical Assistance and The American Heart Association, the major causes of cardiovascular disease, which includes atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, is a high fat diet, lack of exercise, obesity, abuse of alcohol, and use of tobacco products, especially smoking tobacco.
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