There are five risks for heart disease that are completely out of our control, so we will start with these.

• AGE -  85% of all people who die of coronary heart disease are 65 years of age or older;
• GENDER -  Men are at greater risk that women and they have more attacks earlier in life.  Even after  women are through the menopause stage, their death rate is still not as great as that of men;
• HEREDITY AND FAMILY HISTORY -  You are more likely to develop heart disease, if your parents developed it prior to the age of 55;
• CONGENITAL RISKS -  Genetic abnormalities and inherited problems will increase the risk;
• MENOPAUSE -  Prior to a woman reaching menopause, her hormones seem to protect her heart and blood vessels.  However, during menopause her estrogen levels significantly decrease and as a result of that, the risk for heart disease increases.

BUT WAIT…THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS…there are a number of factors that are well within your control.  If you pay close attention to these and modify your lifestyle and behaviour,  you can make a tremendous difference in the health of your heart.

Here are three controllable risk factors.

• HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE -  If you suffer from hypertension, your heart is having to work overtime, causing it to enlarge and weaken over time.  It is also known to increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure and kidney failure.  If you are also obese, smoke, have high cholesterol levels or diabetes, your risk of having a heart attack multiplies;
• DIABETES -  Unfortunately, statistics show that two thirds of people with diabetes die from some form of heart or blood vessel disease….and that is even if their glucose levels are under control.  Therefore, if you are a diabetic, it is  critical to diligently monitor your blood sugar levels and do everything you can to control it;
• HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL -  As blood cholesterol levels increase so does the risk of coronary heart disease.  If you happen to smoke and also have high blood pressure, then the risk increases even more.  Cholesterol level can also be affected by  age, gender, heredity and diet.

There are numerous treatments for all of the above three risk factors.  However, in many cases it is just a matter of a change in lifestyle.  For instance, smoking is very harmful to not only the health of your heart and your blood vessels, but many other organs of your body.  Giving up smoking might take a great deal of effort and self control, but anyone who has done it will tell you how they feel so much better.

We also have complete control over our diet.  Try to get as many fruits and vegetables into your diet as possible.  Make good protein choices, such as fish, skinless chicken and turkey and legumes.  Low fat and non-fat dairy products are also recommended.  Use monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as olive, canola and corn oil.

Even though you might be one of those persons who has been dealt a raw hand when it comes to risk factors, there is still so much that you can do to keep your heart and blood vessels as healthy as they can be for you.  It really is worth all the effort you can muster to do this.

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Disease cannot thrive or even survive in an alkaline body.  Learn all about it here.