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As plaque builds up in the arteries of a person with heart disease, the inside of the arteries begins to narrow, which lessens or blocks the flow of blood.\nSource: http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/heartdisease\/facts.htm<\/p>\n
Owning a car in land-scarce Singapore is expensive. For those of us who are lucky to own a car, we know how indispensable it can be. From using it to go to and from work, to sending our children to classes and visits to the doctor, to visiting our loved ones or to just drive to discover another family adventure, the car has become an integral part of our lives especially when bringing us to places to create fond family memories. However, if a car is not well maintained, the cost of owning a car can and will easily skyrocket. Starting from increased fuel expenses to then inconveniences of car breakdowns, and not mentioning the hefty cost of car repairs and replacement!<\/p>\n
Just like our own bodies, there are many areas in the car that need to be regularly checked and serviced to ensure they are in optimum working condition. The most important is the engine. This is where \u2018life\u2019 emanates from, just like our hearts. Through the combustion of fuel and oxygen, it works like how the blood runs through our hearts. So it is vital that whatever is in the car\u2019s \u2018bloodstream\u2019 (i.e. fuel) does not have an adverse effect on the heart of the car (i.e. the engine) which over time can hasten its wear and tear.<\/p>\n
Cardiovascular disease is one of the major killers in our society. It manifests itself in many ways including heart attacks and strokes. According to Singapore Heart Foundation, every day, 15 people die from cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) in Singapore. Cardiovascular disease accounted for 29.9% of all deaths in 2014. This means that nearly 1 out of 3 deaths in Singapore, is due to heart disease or stroke.I think most, if not all of us, know of at least someone in the family or circle of friends who have had a heart-related disease.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m no medical expert but medical journals suggest that heart diseases can be attributed to the valves around our heart getting clogged. There are 4 main valves around our heart that brings life-giving blood to our hearts and out to the rest of our body. Amazingly, it has been doing that even before we were born \u2013 right in our mothers\u2019 womb. The heart and its valves keep working throughout our lives \u2013 from our first steps, to our first words, our first day at school to our graduation, our wedding to the time we have our own children and our retirement\u2026The heart is responsible for it all. Imagine how hard it works!<\/p>\n
As plaque builds up in the arteries of a person with heart disease, the inside of the arteries begins to narrow, which lessens or blocks the flow of blood.
\nSource: http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/heartdisease\/facts.htm<\/p>\n
The food we consume plays an important part in our cardiovascular health, since the elements in our food enter our bloodstream and into every vital organ. In our busy urban lives, we invariably load ourselves with all kinds of junk food out of convenience. For me, my \u2018once in a blue moon\u2019 excuse for eating that burger or pizza seems to suggest that the blue moon occurs too frequently for my own good! Our sedentary lifestyles worsen that predicament. Living in foodie Singapore, our motivation for exercising never seems to triumph over the craving for these irresistibly sinful, artery-choking foods!<\/p>\n
![\"Sinful](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Sinful-Food-2.jpg?resize=1046%2C588&ssl=1\")
So hard to resists these artery-choking food! Source: Life’sTinyMiracles<\/p>\n
So over time, if we don\u2019t watch it, all sorts of fatty deposits, gunk and chemical mess start to build up in our heart valves. These deposits, once built up can be difficult to eradicate. Here\u2019s a short video on how heart attacks can happen over time:<\/p>\n