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>General Health >Community Health >Chronic Disease >Heart Disease >FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do vitamins help prevent heart disease? No, there is no proof that taking vitamins alone can prevent heart disease. But people who eat foods rich in Vitamin E and Vitamin C are less likely to have heart disease.

Does having a healthy lifestyle mean that I won't get heart disease? No, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important, but it is not the only factor in determining heart disease. Many people have genetic conditions and hereditary factors that may make them more prone to the disease.

What is considered a normal heart rate? This number varies between individuals because it is determined by the number of times that your heart beats when you are in a fully relaxed physical and mental state. For the typical adult this number usually ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Children, females, and individuals with higher body mass indexes tend to have higher heart rates.

What are triglycerides? Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body. Calories ingested in a meal and not used immediately by tissues are converted to triglycerides and transported to fat cells to be stored. Hormones regulate the release of triglycerides from fat tissue so they meet the body's needs for energy between meals.