heart disease

The current age composition of the United States population according to the 2011 Census 313,232,044 as of July 2011.. There is an increase of 9.7 % since 2000. The data shows that the male population grew 9.9%, which is somewhat more rapidly than the female population, which was 9.5%. Of the 308.7 million people, 157 million were female and 151.8 were male. People under the age of 18 were 112.8; people of age 45-64 were 81.5 million. The 40.3 million people of the 313,232,044 were age 65 and over (Howden, Meyer, 2011). The aging trend is likely to decrease the following health issues, like heart disease and stroke. Heart disease has controllable risk factors like, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes tobacco use, obesity and poor diet. It is important for one to address these risks early because only then he or she can prevent the problems of cardiovascular disease. A poor diet that consists of high fat, high cholesterol and excess salt can add to causes for heart disease. The chemicals in cigarettes harm ones' blood cells, and damage the function of his or her heart and blood vessels. High cholesterol causes build up called (atherosclerosis) and that narrows ones heart arteries, causing angina, heart attack or sudden death. Hypertension can harden and thicken ones' arteries and this makes the vessels, which blood travels through narrow, thus not enough blood flows through the heart and to the rest of the body organs. Diabetes and obesity also contribute to heart disease and one must learn how to control his or her weight and blood glucose (Heart Disease, 2011). Environmental factors that support this trend in aging are, exercising and one's diet. Whether one exercises or is inactive is a major factor. Exercise affects the aging process more than genes do. If one is not active, he or she can die prematurely from many conditions and diseases. Inactivity can also cause one to become immobilized at an earlier age. One's diet also can be a factor in aging. A