The painting on the top of this post compares a healthy artery on the left to an unhealthy artery on the right. The healthy artery has a strong endothelial lining separating the smooth muscle and interior of the artery. In the atherosclerotic artery on the right, fat, cholesterol, and inflammatory by-products have infiltrated and are becoming established in the arterial wall.
A Functional Medicine Nutrition Therapy assessment can help you determine your risk for developing heart disease. The Healthy Heart Habits program helps you make diet and lifestyle changes to keep arteries healthy and prevent and reverse atherosclerosis.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common type of heart disease. CHD is caused by atherosclerosis, a disease process where fat and cholesterol and other substances build up in the walls of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. The arteries become narrowed, and the blood flow is diminished. This process can lead to blood clots, heart attacks, or strokes.