LOI+3

Resource 1- "Four Warning Signs of a Heart Attack That You Never Saw Coming." Newsmax 12 Sept. 2011. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 22 Nov. 2011

 Focusing mainly on the moments leading up to the initial heart attack, this source gives the reader an in depth view of the major, and more subtle, warning signs of a heart attack. In the article, it claims that most signs of a heart attack go unrecognized, and this is simply because the majority people do not notice them. This proposes quite a large problem, considering once someone has had a heart attack, there is very little time for the patient to be saved. This is because the longer the heart attack goes untreated, the less of the heart muscle can be saved. Doctors refer to the small amount of that a patient has to be saved as the "golden hour". This is the time when most treatments are successful.

Resource 2- "How to increase good cholesterol." The South Asian Times 13 Nov. 2010. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 22 Nov. 2011.  This article talks about the different ways to increase good cholesterol from both a scientific perspective, and in a way that the everyday person can understand. The article says that HDL is the name given to the good kind of cholesterol, opposed to LDL, which is the bad kind. LDL is the main culprit of a heart attack, since it is what clogs the arteries. On the other hand, HDL is what prevents this from happening, by either outnumbering the LDL, or destroying it. The article also says that the cause of high LDL levels (and low HDL levels) is due to things such as smoking, drinking, and unhealthy foods.

Resource 3- Fackelmann, Kathy A. "White cells and the formation of plaque." Science News 28 Nov. 1992: 373. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 22 Nov. 2011.

 To further the information given in the previous article, this resource suggests that T- Cells may contribute to the build up of plaque. This is because initial plaque attracts T4 lymphocytes, which can also help block the arteries. The article also says that these T4 lymphocytes not only stick to the plaque and contribute to the blockage, but they also secret a substance that clogs the arteries as well. This can propose a huge problem, because unlike controlling LDL levels by simply eating healthier, controlling the levels of T-Cells is a much harder thing to do.

Resource 4- "Shake the salt habit now! Your life may depend on it." Prevention Jan. 2011: 018. Student Resources in Context. Web. 22 Nov. 2011.

 My fourth resource talks about how a high intake of salt can be one of the main causes of high blood pressure. This is not because of the salt you add to the food, but because of the salt that is already in the food. This is a problem because salt, like many different drugs, releases dopamine, which is the chemical in your brain relating to pleasure. The article then goes on to say that because of this, salt is addictive. High intakes of salt also have much to do with salty beverages. (Which, ironically, people are more likely to drink after eating salty foods)

Resource 5- "What Causes a Heart Attack? - NHLBI, NIH." NIH Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2011.

 I chose to use this resource because it talks about the whole process of the heart attack, and the reason why each thing happens the way that it does. The first thing that the article talked about was what happens when an area of plaque breaks apart. The article said that when this happens, a blood clot forms over the ruptured area, very similar to what happens when we get a cut on our skin. I surprised to learn that it wasn't necessarily the plaque that causes the blockage in the artery, but it's the combination of the plaque and the blood clot. After this happens, blood can no longer pass through that artery, hence, you're having a heart attack. The article also talked about a more uncommon type of heart attack caused by a coronary artery spasm. This can be caused by things such as intense emotional stress, and extreme cold.