The number-one killer in America (for both men and women), heart disease is the result of the narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart with blood, oxygen, and nutrients. This process, called coronary artery disease, can generally be traced to a condition called atherosclerosis, the build-up of cholesterol-rich fatty deposits, or plaques, on the inside of arterial walls. As these deposits accumulate over time, the coronary arteries narrow to the point that the flow of oxygenated blood to the heart is impeded. (Arterial spasms — triggered by smoking, extreme emotional stress, or exposure to very cold temperature —may also cause coronary arteries to narrow suddenly and dangerously.)

The Risk Factors — and How You Can Reduce Yours
Major risk factors for cardiovascular disease include cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or triglycerides, diabetes mellitus, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and poor nutrition. Prevention and treatment centers around these risk factors — and these approaches will help you lower risk for many other types of illness, as well as helping you feel great and have more energy overall.

1. Don’t smoke.
Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of cardiovascular disease in women, with more than 50 percent of heart attacks among middle-aged women attributable to tobacco. Risk of cardiovascular disease begins to decline within months of smoking cessation and reaches the level of persons who have never smoked within 3 to 5 years.

2. Lower your cholesterol.
High blood cholesterol is a condition that greatly increases your chances of developing coronary heart disease. Extra cholesterol in the blood settles on the inner walls of the arteries, narrowing them and allowing less blood to pass through them to the heart. Aim for total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL; LDL cholesterol below 130 mg/dL and HDL above 35 mg/dL.

3. Maintain a healthy weight.
Obesity and sedentary lifestyles are epidemics in the United States that contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of obesity has increased among both men and women in the United States in the past decade; currently about one third of adult women (or 34 million) are classified as obese. Also, 60% of both men and women get no regular physical activity. Obesity, especially abdominal adiposity, is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women.

4. Exercise regularly.
Recent evidence suggests that even moderate-intensity activity, including brisk walking, is associated with substantial reduction of cardiovascular disease risk. These findings support the 1995 federal exercise guidelines endorsing 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week, a program that should be feasible and safe for most of the population. Regular exercise and maintenance of healthy weight should also help reduce insulin resistance and the risk of non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, which appears to be an even stronger risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women than in men. Diabetes is associated with a threefold to sevenfold elevation in cardiovascular disease risk among women, compared with a twofold to threefold elevation among men. Approximately half of all deaths in patients with non–insulin dependent diabetes mellitus are due to heart disease.

5. Eat less saturated fat, more produce & more fiber.
Diets low in saturated fat and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Also, a recent study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal confirmed that the consumption of fruits and vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables and vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables, seems to have a protective effect against coronary heart disease. You may even think about moving toward more flexitarian or vegetarian eating habits: A vegetarian diet reduces the risk of coronary artery disease, and may even reverse existing coronary artery disease when combined with other lifestyle changes. A Mediterranean diet that uses olive oil can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease.

6. Avoid trans fats.
Trans fatty acids have been linked to adverse lipid profiles and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This includes most margarines. The role of other fatty acids, including monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and marine omega-3 fatty acids, remains controversial.

7. Consume alcohol only in moderation.
Moderate intake of alcohol is related to reduction of cardiovascular disease — but may raise blood pressure and increase risk of breast cancer. Early surgical menopause is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which appears to be negated by the use of estrogen therapy.

8. Arm yourself with risk-reducing supplements.
Antioxidant vitamin supplements, particularly vitamin E and homocysteine-lowering agents such as folate and B6, have promising roles in prevention of cardiovascular disease, but conclusive evidence may hinge on the results of several ongoing randomized clinical trials. When it is found in unusually high levels, homocysteine brings the same degree of risk as having high cholesterol does. The B vitamins, especially folic acid and B12, will drive elevated homocysteine levels down to normal, often without the need of any prescription medication.

9. Give yourself some new stress-management tools.
Poorly controlled stress may have an adverse effect on blood lipids. An attitude of hostility has been powerfully linked with a higher incidence of cardiac events, and cynical distrust has been associated with accelerated progression of carotid artery disease. Relaxation methods (meditation, breathing exercises), yoga, and stress management techniques are essential for preventing cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease and for reducing the risk of recurrent cardiac problems. Meditation improves exercise tolerance and decreases electrical changes associated with poor circulation to the heart. Meditation has also been shown to lower cholesterol and reverse carotid artery thickening. Also consider acupuncture, which has been shown to help relax the myocardium and improve circulation.

10. Ask your health professional about herbs and nutritional supplements that may be useful in preventing and treating cardiovascular disease, including:

- Bilberry
- Turmeric (curcumin)
- Fenugreek
- Ginger
- Guggul
- Ginkgo
- Garlic (one garlic clove is roughly equal to 4 mg to 1 gram of garlic; a daily dose of 600 to 800mg may be recommended)
- Onion
- Vitamin B12
- Folic acid (500 to 5000 micrograms daily may be recommended)
- B6
- L-Carnitine
- Coenzyme Q10 (100 to 300 mg daily may be recommended)
- Vitamin E (400 to 800 International Units daily may be recommended)
- Magnesium (200 to 400 mg daily may be recommended)
- Niacin (A typical oral dose of 100 mg, three times daily; may gradually increase to avg. dose of 1 gram three times daily, with a maximum dose of 6 grams. Extended release tablets: Dosing may begin with one 375-milligram tablet at bedtime and be increased by no more than 500 mg per four-week period, to a maximum of 2,000 mg, given as two 1,000-milligram tablets before bed)
- Fish oils (6 grams daily may be recommended))
- Soy (Isoflavones may be recommended))

Researchers have found that even people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol may have smaller brain volume than those who do not drink. In a study published in the October issue of the Archives of Neurology, researchers conducted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain on 1,839 healthy people. They found that any level of alcohol consumption resulted in a reduction in brain volume. That is, the more alcohol consumption that people reported, the smaller their brain volume. People who did not drink alcohol had the greatest brain volumes. Some brain shrinkage is normal as people age; brain volume decreases about 2 percent per decade.

It is not yet clear if alcohol consumption directly shrinks brain tissue in people but this study raises some concerns that even moderate levels of alcohol use may have harmful effects on the brain.

Nowadays, things are really getting tougher for students. This world is really getting more and more competitive and if you want to survive, you will have to develop some special skills. That’s exactly the reason why students travel to different places to acquire special skills or degrees, for instance. However, it is so common to see that student always find themselves in such circumstances that cause freshman 15.

There is no denying in the fact that college life can really become so busy that students can never find time to take care about their physique. That’s exactly where the freshman 15 comes into the picture. It’s very understandable if you become fat during your college days. However, if you are one of those persons who are aware of the threats proposed by freshman 15, then you must take some steps to stay away from it.

Always get enough sleep:
The importance of sleep can not be emphasized in a right way. It is the most crucial thing that will have direct effects on your health. Sleeping for enough hours is essential for everyone, but, it is momentous for college students. Many studies have claimed that if college students will take a sleep of about seven hours, they will stay fit and slimmer. On the other hand, sleeping for less than seven hours can increase weight. So, develop a perfect schedule to get enough sleep at night.

Maintain good eating habits:
There are lots of students who always skip breakfast and go with late night meals. It is imperative to mention that breakfast can really provide you the energy that is required to perform day to day tasks. So, it must never be skipped. Students who skip breakfast always find them in a problem of excessive weight. Breakfast can have a direct impact on metabolism, so, it should never be skipped. Similarly, always stay away from late night meals as calories can make you gain more weight.

Exercising:
There is nothing to emphasize the importance of exercising. Exercise can help you to stay active and it can strengthen your immune system along with metabolism. Of course if you are obese, exercise is the best solution for you as well. Students must always try to get indulged in some physical activities like swimming, running, walking, etc. Also, students can go for weight training as this is the best way to stay fit and fine.

Bad drinking habits:
To stay away from freshman 15, students must stay away from bad habits like drinking alcohol, soda etc. Drinking alcohol can really create bad effects on your weight as it injects empty calories in your body. Drinking 8 beers means that you are having 960 empty calories which is really undesirable. Similarly, soda can also be considered bad because of the presence of processed sugar. So, try to stay away from these things if you want to avoid freshman 15.

So, these are the basic things that students must keep in mind to avoid the phenomenon known as freshman 15. However, there are some other things as well that are to be considered by freshmen. For instance, eating in cafeteria should be done in a right way and all types of deserts should be avoided. Simply put, you must have a plan and you must eat and sleep according to that as this will not only bring discipline in your life, but, you will also be able to enjoy a better fitness. Don’t forget to try various weight loss programs if you really think you need it.