Following a healthy diet, exercising regularly and maintaining normal blood pressure are important for heart health. However, cardiologists warn that these habits cannot completely eliminate the possibility of developing blocked arteries.
A new health discussion has highlighted why coronary artery disease can sometimes occur even in people who maintain an active lifestyle and follow healthy eating habits.
The discussion centres on an important question: Can someone develop a blocked heart artery despite exercising regularly, avoiding unhealthy foods and maintaining a normal body weight? According to cardiologists, the answer is yes.
Why Can Artery Blockages Develop Despite a Healthy Lifestyle?
Coronary artery disease develops when plaque builds up inside the arteries supplying blood to the heart. Although lifestyle choices influence cardiovascular health, several other factors can contribute to this process.
Cardiologist explains that ageing, genetics, family history, diabetes and cholesterol levels can all influence the development of artery blockages.
This means that even people who exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight may still develop coronary artery disease.
Low Blood Pressure Does Not Guarantee Healthy Arteries
One important misconception highlighted by the cardiologist is that low blood pressure automatically protects someone from heart disease.
A person may have a blood pressure reading of 90/60 and still have plaque inside their coronary arteries. Blood pressure and artery blockage are different cardiovascular concerns.
Doctors therefore recommend evaluating overall heart health rather than relying on a single measurement.
Other Risk Factors That Should Not Be Ignored
Several factors may increase the possibility of coronary artery disease:
- High LDL cholesterol levels
- Diabetes and elevated blood sugar
- Family history of heart disease
- Smoking exposure
- Kidney disease
- Age-related changes
- Hormonal changes after menopause
These factors highlight why regular cardiovascular assessments remain important even for people who follow healthy routines.
What Should People Do to Protect Their Heart?
Doctors recommend regular health check-ups, appropriate cholesterol and blood sugar testing, balanced nutrition and consistent physical activity.
People diagnosed with an artery blockage should understand which artery is affected and how severe the narrowing is. Further medical evaluation may involve CT coronary angiography or conventional coronary angiography.
Chest pressure, unexplained breathlessness, sweating or pain spreading towards the arm or jaw requires urgent medical evaluation.
Heart Health Requires More Than Exercise and Diet
A healthy lifestyle remains one of the strongest foundations of cardiovascular prevention, but it cannot remove every risk factor. Understanding family history, monitoring cholesterol and seeking timely medical advice are equally important.
