There are many causes that lead to mortality in America. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America. Coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and other illnesses can lead to heart failure. In 2010, coronary heart disease cost the United States approximately $108.9 billion. Total costs include medications, decreased productivity, and medical services. What is coronary heart disease (CHD)? It is a disease when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries; and the job of the arteries is to supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. Plaque that builds up in the arteries leads to atherosclerosis, and the plaque that forms can develop over years. As the years pass, plaque tends to harden or crack. If hardened, the arteries are now narrow and have weakened the flow of blood traveling to the heart. Blood clots can form from the rupture of the plaque which can cause a great risk of the blood flow being mostly blocked or blocked completely. There are other names for coronary heart disease such as coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, etc. What causes coronary heart disease? There are several factors that can affect and damage the lower layer of the coronary arteries: diabetes, inflammation of the blood vessels, hypertension, smoking and high amounts of certain cholesterols and fats in the blood. The risk of contracting coronary heart disease is obesity/overweight, lack of physical activity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, family/genetic history, poor diet, stress, etc. What signs and symptoms to look for in coronary heart disease? The most common type of symptom is angina. What is angina? According to heart.org, angina is chest pain or discomfort caused when you... middle of paper... have a CHD. Food can also be a relevant factor. Dietary patterns such as nutritional factors and markers of inflammation are used as a way to analyze a connection with coronary heart disease. The reduced rank regression (RRR) method was established. Various studies have formulated nutritional models using RRR. It was found (McNaughton et al, 2009) that one model connection had a link to an increased chance of coronary heart disease resulting from the use of blood lipids as feedback. There are preventative measures that can be taken to prevent coronary heart disease. Go to the doctor and get a regular check-up. Mainly have a healthy lifestyle by following a healthy diet; this diet should include low salt intake, whole foods, low-fat/fat-free foods, meat (lean), fruits, vegetables, nuts, and water. Exercising or being active also reduces your chances of getting coronary heart disease.