We all have those moments when someone warns us of something bad that can happen, but we always say, "Well, it won't ever happen to me." Completely out of the blue tragedy can strike and really complicate our lives. One tragedy in particular is heart disease. For many young people this is a far distant threat, or so we think. More often should we think about how our lifestyle choices now will affect us 10 to 15 years down the road. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States of America for both men and women. Heart disease leads the nation in deaths above all types of cancer. According to 2013 statistics from the Center for Disease Control, per 100,000 citizens 731.9 deaths were caused by some form of heart disease. That is a shockingly high number, and it is something that many times can be prevented. I'm not telling you how to live your life. I'm just saying its worth educating yourself, so we all can live longer, healthier lives.

Heart.org states, "Heart and blood vessel disease — also called heart disease — includes numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke."

This plaque build-up can be controlled by diets, increased exercise, some medicines even claim to reduce your risk. With 11.5 percent of this nation's adults being diagnosed with heart disease, I would like to take my precautions. Hell, I'm all for a big greasy burger or a basket of hot wings. C'mon guys, I'm not going to waste being blessed with a fast metabolism, but I definitely try to stay active, at least. Smoking is another culprit to increased risk for heart disease, even second-hand smoke. It's important to stay away from cigarettes because they increase the amount of work your heart has to do to get oxygen to the rest of your body. Not to mention the second threat of getting some form of cancer.

Heart disease is such an interesting subject for me because I have a valve disorder in my heart, called Mitral Valve Prolapse. This valve does not close properly when allowing blood to flow between chambers, but thankfully it is treatable with a tiny pill twice a day. However, I still like to take my precautions because I would like to avoid the doctors as much as possible during my later years (I hate the smell of doctors offices and hospitals...) So, like your mothers and doctors alike, I recommend eating your vegetables and being active for 60 minutes a day. Also, spread awareness about heart disease before it becomes too late for someone else.