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Frequently Asked Questions about Heart Disease

Frequently Asked Questions about Heart Disease

Heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease, is the number one cause of death in the United States. Heart disease occurs when the arteries in the heart become narrowed and blocked due to fatty buildup, known as arteriosclerosis. This blockage in the arteries decreases the amount of blood and oxygen that can get to the heart and other vital organs and can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Source: American Heart Association

Factors known to increase your chances of developing heart disease can be broken into two categories--those that can be controlled (modified or treated) and those that can’t. Risk factors you do have control of are your cholesterol levels, your weight, your blood pressure, whether you smoke, and your physical activity. High cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, being overweight, smoking, and inactivity each can increase your risk of heart disease.

Factors that you can’t control are your age, gender and your family history (and race). Men aged 65 and older are more at risk for heart disease and the risk increases with age. Children with parents who have had heart disease are at a greater risk than children whose parents have not had heart disease. African Americans as well as Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans have a higher risk of heart disease than Caucasians.

Source: American Heart Association;
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4726

Saturated fats are unhealthy fats that cause the body to make more cholesterol. Saturated fat is found mostly in foods that are of animal origin. Foods that are commonly high in saturated fat are fatty cuts of meat (beef, lamb, pork), poultry with the skin, whole and 2% milk and milk products, butter, cheese, and lard. Foods from plant sources that are high in saturated fat include palm kernel oil, palm oil, coconut oil and cocoa butter.

Of all the fats you can eat, saturated fat has the most influence on blood cholesterol levels. Eating too much saturated fat can cause cholesterol levels to go up, increasing the risk of heart disease.

Source: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute;
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/chdblack/smart1.htm

Why should parents be concerned about the amount of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol their children eat?

Heart disease doesn’t happen overnight--it begins developing in early childhood and may not produce symptoms until adulthood. Over the years, fat and cholesterol can build up in the arteries, which can block the flow of blood to the heart and other vital organs. Eventually, these blockages can lead to poor circulation, heart attack, stroke, and even death.

Expert health organizations recommend that anyone over the age of two keep their saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol intakes low in order to prevent fat buildup in the arteries later in life. (link to info below about saturated fat, etc)

Source: American Heart Association, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

At what age should children start limiting their saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol intake?

Leading health organizations including the American Heart Association, the American Dietetic Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that anyone over the age of two limit their intake of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.

Source: The American Heart Association, The American Dietetic Association and The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

A healthy eating plan is one that is good for the heart, helps in the prevention of chronic disease and controls body weight. In general, a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables is recommended for anyone aged 2 and older. More specifically, the American Heart Association recommends eating less than 30 percent of total calories from fat, less than 10 percent of calories from saturated and less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day.

Source: The American Heart Association; http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1088

Why should parents be concerned about the amount of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol their children eat?

You should always check with your doctor or qualified health professional about your risk for heart disease, which might include having blood cholesterol levels checked.

Source: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute’s National Cholesterol Education Program; www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.htm

While some experts do not believe it is necessary for all children to get routine cholesterol checks, you should always check with your child’s doctor or qualified health care professional. Children over the age of two who may need to have their cholesterol checked if they have:

If my child has high cholesterol levels, should she/he be put on cholesterol-lowering medication?

Children with high blood cholesterol levels should be under the care of a doctor or other qualified health care professional who can ultimately determine the best course of treatment. Experts usually recommend that most children who have high cholesterol levels first try to lower their cholesterol by eating a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, increasing their physical activity levels, and losing excess weight.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics; http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;101/1/141

Source: National Cholesterol Education Program;
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncep/

Trans fat is formed when liquid oils are made more solid through a process called partial hydrogenation. Essentially, hydrogenation is the process of making unsaturated fat more saturated. The process is used to increase the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing these fats. Fully hydrogenated fats do not contain trans fat but are high in saturated fats.

According to the FDA and leading health authorities, saturated and trans fats raise LDL (or "bad") cholesterol and lower HDL (or “good”) cholesterol levels in the blood, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease. Dietary cholesterol also contributes to heart disease. Unsaturated fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, do not raise LDL cholesterol and are beneficial when consumed in moderation since they maintain healthy cholesterol levels when substituted for saturated fats. Therefore, FDA states “It is advisable to choose foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol as part of a healthful diet.”

When comparing foods, look at the Nutrition Facts panel, and choose the food with the lower amounts of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. Health experts recommend that you keep your intake of these nutrients as low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet. However, these experts recognize that eliminating these three components entirely from your diet is not practical because they are unavoidable in ordinary diets. According to the American Heart Association, foods that are major sources of trans fat in the diet are cookies, crackers, French fries, donuts and other commercial baked goods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. According to AHA, the amount of saturated fat plus trans fat you eat each day should not be more than 10 percent of your total calories or 22 grams (for a 2,000-calorie diet) combined.

Source: American Heart Association;
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4582

Source: Food and Drug Administration;
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/transfat.html

Leading health organizations recommend that children and adults be active for at least 30 to 60 minutes on most days. The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Exercise that increases the heart rate (called aerobic) can lower the risk heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Not only can exercise lower total cholesterol levels, it can also raise the HDL “good” cholesterol levels and may reduce the “bad” LDL levels. Exercise is also important for maintaining healthy weight and for the development of strong bones.

Source: American Heart Association;
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4596