Coronary Artery Disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. It is a disease that involves a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen and other nutrients to the muscle of the heart. It may seem strange if you haven’t studied anatomy and physiology, but even though the heart has blood flowing through it constantly, this blood does not supply oxygen and nutrients to the muscle of the heart.

Within the vascular system there are three main arteries. Each of these branch off into smaller arteries and blood vessels to provide oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. Those suffering from coronary artery disease can experience a restriction of blood flow through any of these arteries or blood vessels.

If you can recognize and reduce the risk factors for Coronary artery disease then you can help prevent it. Factors such as obesity, lack of activity, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol levels can be changes or at least controlled to help you live healthier. Other factors like age, gender and family history can’t be controlled, but should make you work harder to keep from having any other risk factors. Most often coronary artery disease is a result of atherosclerosis, or fat and deposit build up inside your blood vessels which restricts the movement of blood through your system.

Most of the time, when your body requires more blood (like when you exercise or are under stress) your blood vessels have the ability to stretch to accommodate them. However, when you have atherosclerosis your body can no longer do this so blood flow is restricted and when your body requires more blood to the heart it won’t get it.

As blood flow is restricted in the smaller vessels to the heart you may become aware of some off and on chest pain, which is called angina. Resting and de-stressing will usually relieve the pain, as can medication. However, the more often this happens the more likely that these attacks will leave behind damage heart muscle, which can never be repaired. If one of your arteries becomes blocked then this could result in a heart attack, or heart failure.

If you think that you are at risk for coronary artery disease then you should consult your doctor for treatment options. There are many ways to treat this disease, from lifestyle changes to medication to surgery.

Tags: Heart

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