Healthy Life Plans

Heart disease is the number 1 cause of death in America, and every day more and more young people are at risk. Just like diabetes, heart disease used to only affect older people, but thanks to McDonalds and other fast “food” restaurants, younger people are at risk for all kinds of diseases usually reserved for old people. But scientists are hard at work developing new tests to find coronary artery disease in early stages.

During their tests, scientists have discovered a gene they believe is an indicator of hardened arteries, which will result in heart problems later in life. The gene they found is called Neuropeptide Y, and they were able to isolate this gene to hardened arteries.

“These and other genetic findings may help us in the future to identify these patients prior to development of coronary artery disease or their first heart attack”.

Even though this is really great news, it doesn’t do anything to attack the root of the problem, poor diet and poor health. Heart disease has never been a problem for young people (until now) because previous generations didn’t eat food filled with red dye, antibiotics and hormones. They were also active, playing football and soccer instead of playing games on their Xbox or computer.

Instead of eating fast food, soda and chips every day and hoping scientists find a cure for your laziness, be proactive and keep yourself healthy from the beginning. Trade those potato chips for an apple or some carrots. Drink juice instead of soda. Small steps like this can prevent heart disease altogether.

On a side note, cherries are great as preventing and even curing artery disease. The antioxidants in cherries can clear plaque out of your blood vessels just as well as those expensive prescription drugs can.