Is There a Link Between Having Children and Heart Disease?

The most common type of heart disease is often linked to a number of genetic mutations, and now new research shows that those mutations may persist in the population — rather than getting winnowed out by evolution — because the people who have them also tend to have more kids.

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Coronary artery disease happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed due to a process known as atherosclerosis, the buildup of cholesterol and other material on the inner walls of the arteries. This means that less blood can flow through the arteries, so heart muscle cannot get the blood or oxygen it needs, which can eventually lead to a heart attack. [5 Surprising Ways to Be Heart Healthy]