Chemistry
Coronary artery disease is a health condition that occurs when there is a plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood flow and nutrients to the heart, thereby blocking the heart supply of blood and oxygen. Smoking, high levels of fat and cholesterol in the blood, excessive alcohol consumption, and high-stress levels are some common causes of coronary artery disease.
High-risk patients of coronary artery disease have high amounts of the LDL (Low-Density Lipoproteins), a hydrophobic core of approximately 170 triacylglycerols,1600 cholesterol ester, and 200 unesterified cholesterol molecules (Christie, 2020).
Lower density lipoproteins, otherwise known as bad cholesterol, make up the majority of the body’s cholesterol. This type can lead to angina or heart attacks as they cause a buildup on the walls of blood vessels, which consequently restricts blood flow and oxygen to the heart. Good cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein lowers the risk of coronary artery diseases as it absorbs cholesterol and transports it to the liver. It is then broken down into bile acids and then flushed out of the body. Pastries, fries, milk, and butter are foods that increase the body’s harmful cholesterol levels.
The benedicts solution is used to test for body sugar levels like glucose. The test is usually blue when there is no sugar present and changes color as sugar levels increase. In the presence of high glucose levels, the benedicts solution test will indicate a brick red color. Ketohexose is a six-carbon monosaccharide that can be found in fructose. It is the sweetest of carbohydrates and is commonly found in honey and fruit juice.
Ketohexose acts as a reducing sugar when Copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate, one of the benedicts reagents, reduces ketohexose and precipitates of cuprous oxide are formed accompanied by color change. In the reaction, a rearrangement occurs between the ketone group and the hydroxyl group on carbon 2 and 1, which transforms fructose to glucose forming an aldehyde group that is readily oxidized by the reagent.