This is how a valve is replaced in the human heart. The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the human body. It is most commonly damaged due to high blood pressure. The main causes of high blood pressure and high cholesterol in the U.S. are due to years of eating just about anything with high fructose corn syrup as an ingredient. This includes soda, candy, and any sweets. Too much salt in your diet and eating more than the daily recommended intake of fat (65 – 80 grams) is also highly discouraged. Exercising as little as 8 minutes a day and eating fresh foods even just five times a week can dramatically drop your chances of acquiring heart disease, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. This makes a universe of a difference over the course of twenty – thirty years.