Atherosclerosis
What Is Coronary
Heart Disease?
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which a waxy
substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries
supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle.
Other names of Coronary Heart Diseases are:
- Atherosclerosis
- Coronary artery disease
- Hardening of the arteries
- Heart disease
- Ischemic heart disease
- Narrowing of the arteries
When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition
is called atherosclerosis. The buildup of plaque
occurs over many years.
Image Speaks - Understanding How Coronary Heart Diseases Develops
From the image figure above –
- Figure A shows the location of the heart in the body.
- Figure B shows a normal coronary artery with normal blood flow. The inset image shows a cross-section of a normal coronary artery.
- Figure C shows a coronary artery narrowed by plaque. The buildup of plaque limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood through the artery. The inset image shows a cross-section of the plaque-narrowed artery.
Over time, plaque can harden or rupture (break
open). Hardened plaque narrows the coronary arteries and reduces the flow of
oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
If the plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form on
its surface. A large blood clot can mostly or completely block blood flow
through a coronary artery. Over time, ruptured plaque also hardens and narrows
the coronary arteries.
Understanding the Complications of Coronary Heart Disease
If the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart
muscle is reduced or blocked, angina or a heart attack can occur.
Angina is chest pain or discomfort. It may feel
like pressure or squeezing in your chest. The pain also can occur in your
shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like
indigestion.
A heart attack occurs if the flow of oxygen-rich
blood to a section of heart muscle is cut off. If blood flow isn’t restored
quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die. Without quick treatment, a
heart attack can lead to serious health problems or death.
Over time, Coronary heart disease can weaken the
heart muscle and lead to heart failure and arrhythmias.
· Heart
failure is a condition in which your heart can't pump enough blood to
meet your body’s needs.
·
Arrhythmias are
problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat.
What Causes Coronary Heart Disease?
Research suggests that coronary heart disease (CHD) starts when
certain factors damage the inner layers of the coronary arteries. These factors
include:
- Being Overweight
- High levels of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood
- High blood pressure
- High levels of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes
- Blood vessel inflammation
The greatest risk factor that defines the other
factors listed is being overweight. Plaque might begin to build up where the
arteries are damaged. The buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries may start
in childhood.
Over time, plaque can harden or rupture (break
open). Hardened plaque narrows the coronary arteries and reduces the flow of
oxygen-rich blood to the heart. This can cause angina (chest pain or
discomfort).
If the plaque ruptures, blood cell fragments
called platelets stick to the site of the injury. They may clump
together to form blood clots.
Blood clots can further narrow the coronary
arteries and worsen angina. If a clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or
completely block a coronary artery and cause a heart attack.
Who is at Risk of Coronary Heart Disease?
Research and statistics shows that coronary heart disease (CHD) is
a leading cause of death for both men and women the world over. Each year, over
a million people die from coronary heart disease.
Certain traits, conditions, or habits may raise
your risk for coronary heart disease. The more risk factors you have, the more
likely you are to develop the disease.
You can control many risk factors, which may
help prevent or delay coronary heart disease. Some of the major risk factors
that leads to coronary heart disease are:
- Overweight or obesity. The terms “overweight” and “obesity” refer to body weight that’s greater than what is considered healthy for a certain height.
- Metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for coronary heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.
- Lack of physical activity. Being physically inactive can worsen other risk factors for coronary heart disease, such as unhealthy blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes, and overweight or obesity.
- Unhealthy diet. An unhealthy diet can raise your risk for coronary heart disease. Foods that are high in saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar can worsen other risk factors for coronary heart disease.
- Alcohol. Heavy drinking can damage the heart muscle and worsen other CHD risk factors. Men should have no more than two drinks containing alcohol a day. Women should have no more than one drink containing alcohol a day.
- Stress. Research shows that the most commonly reported "trigger" for a heart attack is an emotionally upsetting event, especially one involving anger.
- Older age. Genetic or lifestyle factors cause plaque to build up in your arteries as you age. In men, the risk for coronary heart disease increases starting at age 45. In women, the risk for coronary heart disease increases starting at age 55.
Although older age and a
family history of early heart disease are risk factors, it doesn't mean that
you’ll develop coronary heart disease if you have one or both. Controlling
other risk factors often can lessen genetic influences and help prevent coronary
heart disease, even in older adults.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Coronary Heart Disease?
- A common symptom of coronary heart disease (CHD) is angina. Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs if an area of your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood.
- Angina may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. You also may feel it in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like indigestion. The pain tends to get worse with activity and go away with rest. Emotional stress also can trigger the pain.
- Another common symptom of coronary heart disease is shortness of breath. This symptom occurs if CHD causes heart failure. When you have heart failure, your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. Fluid builds up in your lungs, making it hard to breathe.
- The severity of these symptoms varies. They may get more severe as the buildup of plaque continues to narrow the coronary arteries.
Signs and Symptoms of Heart Problems Related To Coronary Heart Disease
Some people who have coronary heart disease have
no signs or symptoms—a condition called silent coronary heart disease. The
disease might not be diagnosed until a person has signs or symptoms of a heart attack, heart
failure, or an arrhythmia (an irregular
heartbeat).
How Is Coronary Heart Disease Treated?
Treatments for coronary
heart disease start with engaging in heart-healthy lifestyle changes.
Heart-healthy lifestyle changes
include:
- Heart-healthy eating
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing stress
- Physical activity
There is a product and program designed
just for this – to help you reset your health and weight from “bad” to “good
and normal”. This product is called Clean 9 by Forever Living Products.
Look better and feel great in just nine
days with CLEAN 9 - an expertly-devised
cleansing program. CLEAN 9 is designed to
kick-start the program and cleanse your body, this provides the perfect
starting point for transforming your diet and fitness habits. Based around
Forever's best-selling Aloe Vera Gel Drink, this nutritionally balanced program
will allow you to see tangible and measurable results in just nine days.
CAN YOU LOSE WEIGHT, FEEL BETTER, HEALTHIER AND LOOK BETTER
IN JUST 9 DAYS?
The answer is a resounding "YES!"
The CLEAN 9 PROGRAM can help to jump
start your journey to a slimmer, perfect weighing, healthier you. This
effective easy-to-follow cleansing program will give you the tools you need to
start transforming your body today.
You can live a healthy life! You look
better; feel better in just 9 days.
CLEAN 9 contain a unique nine
day dietary supplement regime designed to transform your diet and fitness
habits.
- Helping you to rest your
weight by kick-starting a healthy weight loss.
- Lowering the risk of blood
clots forming (blood clots can cause a heart attack)
- Preventing complications of
coronary heart disease
- Reducing risk factors in an
effort to slow, stop, or reverse the buildup of plaque
- Relieving symptoms
- Helping to clear or widening
of clogged arteries
Busy schedules, meals on-the-go, not enough energy - there can be
many causes of weight gain and fatigue. But, there doesn't have to be.
Forever's CLEAN 9 program can help you
build healthy habits and make a permanent change for the better.
0 comments:
Post a Comment