07/18/2024
Cardiovascular disease is a group of diseases that affect the structure and functioning of heart and blood vessels. These diseases can affect one or many parts of your heart and/or blood vessels. Globally, coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of both fatalities and disabilities. In 2005, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report stated that 17.5 million deaths (30%) globally were attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The concerning increase in coronary risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidaemias, smoking, central obesity, and physical inactivity are the main reasons behind growing incidence of coronary heart disease in India. Over the last twenty years, India has experienced a rapid increase in the number of coronary risk factors due to changes in lifestyle and urbanization.
Blood flow in your coronary arteries, which supply blood to your heart muscle, is restricted when you have coronary artery disease (CAD). This is because the plaque in your coronary arteries narrows them and reduces the blood flow through them. This plaque is composed of cholesterol and other materials. The most typical sign of CAD is chest pain. Ultimately, an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or a heart attack can result from CAD.
Does it run in the family? Yes, it may. Although your family history has an impact on your risk of coronary artery disease, genetics plays no role in many other risk factors. Your daily lifestyle decisions have a significant influence on your chance of developing CAD. Fortunately, these days, there are numerous treatments available for treating CAD.
Coronary Heart Disease
Heart surface coronary arteries that are mainly are affected by coronary artery disease. Another heart disease that affects the small arteries within the heart muscle is called coronary microvascular disease. Women experience coronary microvascular disease at a higher rate.
Depending on the cause, the specific type of coronary heart disease persists. The accumulation of cholesterol, a waxy material that forms plaque inside the coronary artery lining, is a common cause of coronary artery disease. The accumulation of plaque in the heart's large arteries can completely or partially obstruct blood flow. Damage to the inner walls of the tiny blood vessels in the heart results in coronary microvascular disease. With a heart-healthy lifestyle and medication, coronary heart disease can be managed for the majority of people.
Even if two people have the same type of coronary heart disease, their symptoms may vary from one another. Because many people do not experience any symptoms, they are unaware that they have coronary heart disease until they experience chest pain, a heart attack, or cardiac arrest, which is the sudden cessation of blood flow to the heart.
If you have coronary heart disease, managing your condition while preventing major issues may require medication, surgery, heart-healthy lifestyle adjustments, or a combination of these.
Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
Atherosclerosis, the gradual buildup of plaque in arteries throughout your body, is the root cause of coronary artery disease. This plaque, composed of cholesterol, waste products, calcium, and fibrin (a blood-clotting substance), narrows and stiffens the arteries. When plaque accumulates in the coronary arteries, it restricts blood flow to the heart muscle, leading to coronary artery disease. This reduced blood flow, known as myocardial ischemia, deprives the heart of oxygen and nutrients, causing chest discomfort (angina) and increasing the risk of a heart attack. Individuals with plaque buildup in their coronary arteries often have similar issues in other arteries, which can result in conditions like carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease
In certain instances, symptoms might be extremely obvious. However, the illness may exist in you even if you show no symptoms. This generally happens in the early stages of CHD. Following are the certain symptoms one can notice to suspect CHD:
- Chest pain or discomfort (angina), the most common symptom
- Feeling of heaviness or squeezing under your breast bone (sternum) which may radiate to your neck, arms, stomach, or upper back.
- Pain triggering with physical exertion or emotion.
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue with activity (exertion)
- General weakness
Risk Factors Behind Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary artery disease is associated with numerous risk factors. While you can't alter every one of them, you can control some of them with medication or lifestyle modifications. Discuss with your doctor your options for addressing these risk factors:
- Advancing age
- Family history of heart diseases
- Excessive intake of saturated fat or refined carbohydrates
- Lack of physical activity
- Lack Of adequate sleep
- Smoking, vaping or other tobacco use
- Atherosclerosis
- High blood pressure
- High bad cholesterol
- Low good cholesterol
- High triglycerides
- Anemia
- Chronic kidney disease
- Autoimmune diseases (including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- HIV/AIDS
- Obesity
- Sleep disorders like sleep apnea
- Early menopause (before age 40)
- History of gestational diabetes, eclampsia or preeclampsia.
- Endometriosis
- Use of hormonal birth control pills
Lifestyle Alterations to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease
Numerous healthy behaviors are part of a healthy lifestyle. The acronym ABCDES can be used to help you remember the risks of heart disease and the related lifestyle modifications:
- Alcohol: Avoid excessive intake
- Blood pressure: Manage it’s levels in normal range by minimizing salt intake
- Cholesterol: Manage it’s levels in normal range by minimizing high fat diet
- Diabetes: Manage your blood glucose levels by minimizing sugar intake
- Exercise: Regular physical activity is essential
- Smoking: Try quitting it
Conclusion
A range of emotions may arise upon discovering you have coronary artery disease. You might be perplexed as to how this could occur. You might be depressed or regret what you did to prevent receiving this diagnosis. However, now is the moment to look ahead rather than regretting the past. Give up any sense of blame or guilt. Rather, make a commitment to starting today and developing a plan to support your heart.
Make manageable lifestyle changes in collaboration with your doctor. Find out about available treatments, including drug therapies, and how they can improve the health of your heart. Inform your loved ones of your objectives and how they can support you.
If you suspect that you are at risk of Coronary Heart Disease, then don’t delay reaching out to our expert cardiologists at Eternal Hospital for the right & timely treatment. Book your appointment now!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: When you have coronary heart disease, how long can you live?
A: The severity of the disease and the course of treatment are two major factors influencing the survival rate for CAD. Generally, the majority of CAD patients can lead long and fulfilling lives if they receive early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Q2: How serious is coronary artery disease?
A: You can immediately reduce your risk of coronary artery disease by stopping smoking, eating a low-sodium diet, and maintaining a healthy weight. Coronary artery disease can cause serious complications, such as heart attack and arrhythmia.