ReferencesCVD Essay AlexBossie BIO-155-01W 1Cardiovascular DiseaseIn the United States, about half of Americans have one of these three risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD); high LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and smoking. Some other minor factors of heart disease are overweight/obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use. Around 2.300 Americans die of CVD each day, or one death every 38 seconds. CVD is term used to define any type of abnormal conditions that involves dysfunction among the heart and blood vessels. The two main underling conditions of CVD are atherosclerosis and hypertension. [ CITATION Jan17 \l 1033 ]Atherosclerosis is a condition where the arterial walls of the blood vessels accumulate deposits of lipids and scar tissue that build up and impair blood flow within the vessels. When the injury in the blood vessel walls occurs, inflammation occurs which causes blood lipids to accumulate at the site. Over time, other proteins, calcium, platelets, form deposits called plaque. This effect causes the lining to narrow thus cause an increase in added stress to the heart. Hypertension (HTN) is a condition that is characterized by high blood pressure. Affecting over 29% of all adults in the United States. HTN is defined as blood pressure above normal in both phases, systolic and diastolic. Diastolic pressure is measured in our arteries between contractions, systolic pressure is measured at the exact moment that the heart contracts. When systolic blood pressure is above 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher this is considered when a person is considered hypertension.[ CITATION Jan17 \l 1033 ] There are many ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. One of the best thing toreduce the risk is to not use tobacco in any form. Maintaining a healthy diet is key to reducingCVD Essay AlexBossie BIO-155-01W 2the risk as well. As well as keeping a healthy diet, Exercise and physical activity are also excellent ways to prevent heart disease.CVD Essay AlexBossie BIO-155-01W 3ReferencesJanice Thompson, Melinda Manore. Nutrition: An Applied Approach. New York: Pearson,