| There are many things that can lead to heart | | | | double your risk of heart disease. According to a |
| disease, i.e. high cholesterol, high blood pressure, | | | | study conducted at the University of Texas |
| etc. But there are also some relatively unknown | | | | Medical School, the bacteria that make gums red |
| things that can contribute to heart disease. Here is | | | | and sore also attach artery walls, setting the |
| a list of those troublemakers and ways that you | | | | stage for plaque deposits which eventually leads |
| can fight to avoid them. | | | | to heart disease. The solution for bad gums is to |
| | | | brush your teeth regularly and schedule cleanings |
| 1. Sleep Deprivation - Sleep deprivation can | | | | and check-ups with your dentist at least every |
| increase blood pressure, disrupt blood sugar | | | | six months. |
| control and increase the production of damaging | | | | 4. Depression - Over 35 million Americans suffer |
| stress hormones. According to a Cornell University | | | | from depression which can raise your risk for |
| research study, getting less than six hours of | | | | heart disease by 40%. Depression is triggered by |
| sleep each night can increase your risk of heart | | | | a shortage of a chemical called serotonin. A |
| disease by 39%. To ensure sound sleep, crank | | | | shortage of serontonin can also cause high blood |
| down the thermostat to between 60 degrees and | | | | pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and even |
| 65 degrees. Most people sleep longer and sounder | | | | clotting. To combat depression, try to spend time |
| when the temperature is cool. | | | | with people who share you interests. Join a club, |
| 2. Psoriasis - The skin disease psoriasis causes | | | | go to church, take a class, anything to mingle with |
| dry, red patches of scaly skin. If that is not bad | | | | people. |
| enough, it's also been proven that folks with | | | | 5. Stress - Stress can lead to high blood pressure |
| psoriasis have a 36% great chance of having a | | | | which can eventually cause heart disease. To |
| heart attack than people who don't have psoriasis. | | | | relieve stress is not always easy, but you should |
| Apparently psoriasis triggers tissue inflammation | | | | try to take a deep breath every time you feel |
| which damages blood vessels and ultimately leads | | | | yourself getting stressed. You also need to find |
| to heart problems. If you know you have | | | | some distractions, things that you enjoy, that will |
| psoriasis or suspect you have psoriasis, consult | | | | help alleviate stress. |
| with your family doctor as there are treatments | | | | Heart disease is serious business, so don't take |
| for this skin disease. | | | | these suggestions lightly. Anything you can do to |
| 3. Gums - Did you know that one in three | | | | prevent heart disease should be in your daily |
| Americans has gum disease. Gum disease is | | | | routine. |
| defined as a chronic, low-grade infection that can | | | | |