coronary artery disease

coronary artery disease

Introduction

Coronary artery disease is the thinning or blockage of coronary arteries as a result of atherosclerosis. The build-up of cholesterol and fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries is what we call atherosclerosis. They block blood flow to the heart muscles by physically clogging the artery affecting its functioning. This results in less blood in the heart which means less supply of oxygen and also rationing of vital nutrients the heart needs to work properly causing chest pains. Also, a heart attack may occur if the blood is blocked entirely in a portion of the heart muscle.

How coronary artery disease develops

This disease started develops in the human body at a very young age mainly when someone is at the teenage is when the blood vessel walls start to show fat streaks. As someone grows old the fats keep on building upon the blood vessel walls causing slight injuries. As the blood transports a lot of substances such as inflammatory cells, cellular waste products, proteins, and calcium starts to stick to the vessel walls. All these substances are what are referred to us as plaques. This process continues over a long time of period inside the arteries resulting in plaques developing in different sizes. The artery can also narrow more when the endothelium becomes irritated and functioning fails to lead to a muscular artery to squeeze at an inappropriate time.

Chest pain is one of coronary artery disease symptoms which is usually referred to as angina. Angina most felt in the chest but it can also be felt in the left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, and arms.

Ways of preventing coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease can be caused by several factors which some can be avoided also some can be avoided. For instance, if your family linage in their history they have been diagnosed with the disease you are at risk of being diagnosed with it. Also, age triggers coronary artery disease, as some get old they at the risk of getting the disease. Sometimes gender also matters. Men are at a higher risk of being diagnosed at an early age compared to women. Those factors cannot be avoidable because they are natural causes. But these do not mean that that the disease cannot be avoided or prevented. These are way on how to prevent this disease:

Healthy diets

Diet matters a lot in someone’s health. People are recommended to take vegetables and fruits regularly accompanied by a diet of whole-grain due to the availability of high fiber and low quantity of fat. The amount of salt consumes should also be low because salt increases blood pressure.

Physical activities

A blend of a healthy diet and being physically active helps to maintain a healthy weight. Being physically active helps to keep blood pressure healthy and also maintaining heart and blood system efficiency.

Avoiding smoking and alcohol

Cigarette products such as nicotine raise blood pressure which results in someone being diagnosed with the disease. Research has shown that the affected number under the age of 50 their main cause is smoking and alcohol drinking.

Control of blood pressure and diabetes

Being physically active and also healthy diets helps to maintain blood pressure. People living with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing coronary artery disease and this can be avoided by maintaining plod pressure and also being physically active which helps to maintain blood sugar levels.

Treatment

Those people already diagnosed with coronary artery disease are prescribed by their doctors to take medicine to regulate their conditions. They are also advised to take medicines with low aspirin to avoid a second heart attack. This medicine a time may have side effects that should be reported immediately to the doctor.

Surgical treatment for coronary artery disease called angioplasty helps to unblocked arteries around the heart. Heart bypass is another surgical treatment for coronary artery disease. This mainly is done when angioplasty is not possible.

Conclusion

Finally, patients living with coronary artery disease like my relative one of the major steps he should take to fight the disease is that one should quit smoking to lower the quantity of nicotine in his blood. Also, he should try much harder and be physically active to help maintain a healthy weight to fight blood pressure. Through these, he will be able to come out of these deadly diseases.