Three Things You Didn’t Know About Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, causing one out of every four deaths. And according to the CDC, about 735,000 people in the United States have a heart attack every year. Most people know that chest pain is an indicator of a heart attack—we are all familiar with the theatrical image of a man clutching his chest and collapsing to the ground. However, there’s a lot that people don’t know about heart disease. Here are three little-known facts:

1.    Heart disease can start in utero.

A 2005 study by Dr. Michael Skilton found that some babies in utero have aortal wall thickening, indicating that an increased risk for heart disease can manifest before a baby even leaves the womb.

2.    Back pain or disc degeneration can be a symptom of cardiovascular disease.

Because atherosclerosis reduces blood flow, particularly to certain lumbar arteries, it can contribute to developing a number of back problems. This research was published in 2009 by Leena Kauppila, M.D., Ph.D., out of Helsinki.

3.    With a proper diet, a blocked artery can be unblocked.

The research done by Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., is some of the most talked-about data regarding plant-based diets as a treatment for coronary artery disease. He has shown that a blocked artery can be treated—and cleared—with a low-fat, plant-based dietary intervention.

The authors of these studies will present their work at this summer’s International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine: Cardiovascular Disease. But to get some heart health tips you can implement now, join our tweet chat today at 1 p.m. EST!

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