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The Silent Killer: High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease / 49
Statistics, however, leave no room for doubt. Whether the cause is an overex-
erted left ventricle, free radicals produced by excess fatty tissue, or the work
of specific foods, there is no denying that being overweight is a major risk
factor for heart disease. And the more overweight one is, the more at risk he
or she becomes.
So what exactly is at stake when it comes to your heart’s health? Let’s
examine the most common heart complications obesity creates: coronary
artery disease and high blood pressure.
Coronary Artery
Disease
According to the Texas Heart Institute, the U.S.
National Library of Medicine, the NIH, and the CDC,
coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death
in America today. Obesity is a major risk factor for
this disease. (“Major” risk factors are those scientists
have proven increase the risk of heart disease. “Contributing” risk factors are
those that doctors think lead to increased risk.)
What is this killer? Coronary artery disease is a chronic condition in
which coronary arteries narrow with blockages and harden. You might have
heard of this condition referred to as “hardening of the arteries.” Its medical
name is atherosclerosis.
How does it work? Think of a drainpipe. When a pipe is free of obstruc-
tion, water flows through it with ease. But what if debris builds up along the
inside of the pipe? Maybe rotting leaves, sticks, and trash collect along its
sides. Eventually this debris dries and hardens. Then what happens the next
time it rains? Rainwater can’t pass through the pipe as easily. It may even
back up because all kinds of gunk are blocking its way. Outflow becomes but
a dribble; little water can get through.
Coronary artery disease works much the same way. Fat and cholesterol
molecules carried in the bloodstream stick to artery walls. Eventually these