Cardiovascular Diseases

Can you Die of a Broken Heart?

Kinda gives new meaning to the phrase doesn't it?   Are we  breaking down our hearts by eating foods that are unhealthy?  Do you eat so many fried foods that you are literally killing your heart and cardiovascular system?  Can you actually die of a "broken heart"? 

Ok, I'm not talking about romance or that bad breakup you had back in the day but I think you know what I mean.  As you've learned in previous blog posts, fat is an essential part of the diet.  However, on a regular basis, many people consume much more fat than they need.  The body likes to hold on to as much fat as it can, because it has no way of knowing where its next meal is coming from.  Holding on to extra fat doesn't provide an unlimited amount of energy or lots and lots of fat-soluble vitamins.  Unfortunately, that double order of fries can lead to all kinds of nasty conditions, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Hypertension or high blood pressure, can be a contributing factor to heart disease, heart attack and stroke.  A high-fat diet can be a contributing factor to hypertension.  In the year 2000, over 50 million Americans had Hypertension.  Hypertension causes the heart to work harder than usual and can accelerate hardening of the arteries.  Hypertension raises the risk of heart disease by three and the risk of a stroke by seven.

It's kinda like letting all the hoses in a car's engine get 80 to 90 % clogged and still expecting the engine to run consistently at 60 mph.  Eventually the engine will either wear out from having to run harder just to keep up ordinary  performance or it will blow a hose.  Just about the same thing happens with a heart that's depending on fat-clogged arteries.  A heart attack can occur when the heart has just been trying to compensate too long with clogged arteries.  A stroke can occur when some of the clog (a combination of dead blood cells and cholesterol called "plaque") breaks off and blocks the blood flow to an artery supplying blood to the brain.

So is it too late to reverse all the bad things  you've done to your heart so far?  The answer is no, it's never too late.  Unless you're going in for an Angioplasty tomorrow morning you can begin to turn things around.  What you shove into your mouth on a daily basis is a contributing factor to the condition of your heart.  Put down the fried foods, start eating better and get at least 30 minutes of cardio a day.  Talk with your doctor about developing a plan for a heart healthy diet.  If you prefer alternative forms of intervention, contact a Registered Dietician or Nutritionist to help you on your path to becoming healthy.  You'll be around a lot longer to enjoy the next romance and heart break that might come along with it.  The good news is your heart will be in much better condition to take what life brings.