CORONARY HEART DISEASE
A Guide to Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease is a condition characterized by the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle with oxygen and other nutrients needed to pump blood. The plaque is made up of calcium, scar tissue, cholesterol, and fatty material. It narrows the arteries and prevents the heart from receiving enough blood.
If left untreated, coronary heart disease can lead to angina, which is chest pain that occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen-rich blood flowing to your heart. Your risk for developing blood clots, heart failure, heart attacks, and arrhythmias also increases when you have coronary heart disease.
Risk Factors
14 million men and women in the United States suffer from coronary heart disease, which continues to be a major cause of death and disability. There are several risk factors that increase one’s chances of developing coronary heart disease. Some of these risk factors can be treated or controlled, while others cannot. The following are major risk factors of coronary heart disease that are beyond your control:
• Age - Most people who die from coronary heart disease are over the age of 65.
• Heredity - If your parents suffered from coronary heart disease, you’re more likely to develop it yourself.
• Gender – Men are more likely to develop coronary heart disease.
These are the major risk factors of coronary heart disease that you can treat or control:
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Obesity
• Diabetes mellitus
• Inactivity
• Stress
• Excessive drinking
Treating Coronary Heart Disease
Treatment aims to prevent your condition from worsening and improves blood flow to the heart. Your doctor will design a treatment plan that’s tailored to your needs and severity of your condition. Medications that are commonly used to treat coronary heart disease include aspirin, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
In the event that medications and lifestyle adjustments do not fully alleviate your condition, it may be necessary for you to undergo surgery. Surgical treatments that benefit those suffering from coronary heart disease include heart catheterization, coronary angioplasty, radiation brachytherapy, atherectomy, and coronary artery bypass surgery. No matter which treatment route you take, however, bear in mind that a healthy lifestyle continues to be one of the best cures for coronary heart disease, either by itself or in combination with medical treatments.