Heart, Blood & Circulation
Heart disease is the number one killer of men.
The pathological process is called atheroschlerosis, or hardening of the arteries. It results from a combination of insults to the inner lining of various arterial beds. In the coronary arteries this results in heart attacks, abnormal heart rhythms, etc. In the brain, the result can be a stroke. Strokes can take many forms, depending on which part of the brain circulation is knocked out. In the abdomen and legs, advanced disease can often lead to chronic kidney failure. Pain in and around the calf can indicate clogged arteries in the groin or lower down.
The disease can also weaken the wall of the aorta, the biggest artery in the body. The wall can balloon out -- and if the balloon gets too large, over 5 cm or so, it has a high risk of bursting. When it does, you lose a lot of blood in a hurry. Even if you get to the operating room quickly, an emergency repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurism carries a mortality rate of 50%.
Check out:
- Healthy Heart Tips
- Top 10 Risks to Heart Health in Men
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- Exercise Electrocardiogram (Stress Test)
Kidney Stones & Cardiovascular Disease
