Understanding Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of death worldwide, with millions of people affected by this potentially life-threatening condition. CAD is caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, leading to blockages and reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. In this article, we will discuss the key points about CAD, including its symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and treatment.
Symptoms of CAD
The symptoms of CAD may include chest pain or discomfort (angina), shortness of breath, fatigue, and weakness. These symptoms may worsen over time, and it is important to seek medical attention if you experience any of them.
Coronary artery disease is mainly manifested by difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or severe fatigue on exertion and a feeling of tightness or tightness in the chest that sometimes radiates to the shoulder or arm. It may also be possibly accompanied by palpitations, profuse sweating, nausea and/or fainting. The intensity of chest pain depends on the type and severity of coronary artery disease. Thus, when the disease is not very advanced, these pains may only appear during physical exertion, forcing the person to stop to rest.
It should be noted that women, because their arteries are smaller than those of men, do not necessarily present the signs classically associated with coronary heart disease. In women, nausea and/or pain between the shoulder blades is more often observed.
Causes
In the vast majority of cases, coronary artery disease is caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is an accumulation of fatty substances, cholesterol and other substances on the walls of the arteries, i.e. a narrowing of the inside diameter of the arteries. This phenomenon is due to the accumulation of fatty deposits inside the vessels, gradually forming plaques that prevent normal irrigation of the heart.
While some coronary diseases may have a genetic cause, others are of environmental origin; two factors which can sometimes be combined.
Risk factors for CAD
Risk factors for CAD include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and a family history of the disease. Other factors such as age, gender, and ethnicity may also increase the risk of developing CAD.
Today well known, we find among the risk factors:
- lack of physical activity,
- poor diet (consumption of products that are too fatty, too sweet or too salty),
- overweight,
- smoking,
- high blood pressure,
- excess harmful blood lipids in the blood (cholesterol is a type of fat),
- excess blood sugar (hyperglycemia is characterized by an abnormally high
- concentration of glucose in the blood., diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body regulates blood sugar levels. blood.),
- stress,
- anxiety and/or depression.
These risk factors are controllable insofar as one can reduce their impact by modifying one’s lifestyle. Conversely, some risk factors are said to be uncontrollable, such as heredity, for example. In fact, coronary heart disease is more likely to appear
Prevention of CAD
Preventing CAD requires a comprehensive approach that addresses risk factors and promotes healthy behaviors. This includes regular physical activity, a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, managing chronic conditions, and reducing stress.
Treatment of CAD
Treatment for CAD may include lifestyle changes, medications to manage symptoms and prevent complications, and medical procedures such as angioplasty or bypass surgery to restore blood flow to the heart. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the disease and the individual’s overall health.
Coronary Artery Disease Treatments
The therapeutic strategy necessarily involves a change in lifestyle to relieve the symptoms of coronary artery disease, arrest the progression of the disease and prevent myocardial infarction Myocardial infarction is characterized by the obstruction, partial or complete, of a coronary artery. The part of the heart connected to this artery no longer receiving oxygen, the latter can become necrotic and die.
We also speak of a heart attack. Thus, the following are recommended in particular:
- the practice of regular physical activity,
- reducing the consumption of processed products, high in fat, sugar or salt,
- smoking cessation,
- limitation of stressful situations.
Pharmaceutical treatment
Pharmaceutical treatment varies according to the stage of coronary insufficiency and the patient’s risk factors: arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia is characterized by an abnormally high level of fats (lipids) in the blood. (cholesterol), hyperglycemia (diabetes). However, medication cannot supplant the adoption of a healthier lifestyle.
Surgical treatment
At the surgical level, an operation can also be envisaged in order to widen the segments of arteries that have suffered a narrowing. The choice of intervention, however, depends on the severity and / or extent of circulatory problems in the myocardium (the term used when the blood contains more LDL than recommended). Myocardium is the technical name for the muscle tissue of the heart. It comes from the Greek myo- for muscle and card for heart. The rhythmic contraction of the heart is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. The contractions therefore do not depend on a conscious work of the human being.
A first option is to dilate the affected artery using an inflatable balloon introduced through a catheter. Then fixed inside the wall what is called a stent. The stent is a medical device that keeps the arteries open, that is to say a small prosthesis, usually metal, to keep it open and thus prevent it from shrinking again.
The other option is bypass surgery. A bypass is a heart surgery technique that bypasses a blocked blood vessel by implanting another blood vessel. coronary artery, an operation that restores the blood and oxygen supply to the heart by “connecting” a healthy artery to the blocked arterial segment.
Importance of early detection and management
Early detection and management of CAD are crucial for preventing complications and improving outcomes. This includes regular check-ups with a healthcare provider, monitoring of blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and adherence to treatment plans.
When to consult the doctor?
Certain symptoms can be a sign of coronary artery disease. Be vigilant if you feel, for example, great weakness or unusual shortness of breath on exertion and/or a feeling of tightness, burning or tightness in the chest. Similarly, loss of consciousness (fainting) with possible nausea or even vomiting can be a sign of coronary artery disease.
More generally, intense pain in the chest, lasting more than five minutes and radiating, for example, to the left arm, the shoulder blades, the neck, the jaw or even the upper part of the abdomen, are clearly symptoms associated with coronary artery disease and in particular with a heart attack (infarction).
In conclusion, CAD is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, leading to blockages and reduced blood flow. Prevention and management of CAD require a comprehensive approach that addresses risk factors and promotes healthy behaviors, as well as early detection and appropriate treatment. By taking steps to reduce the risk of CAD and managing the condition effectively, many people are able to lead full and healthy lives.
Sources: PinterPandai, Mayo Clinic
Photo credit (main picture): BruceBlaus / Wikimedia Commons
Photo description: Stents in Coronary Arteries. One of the treatments for coronary heart disease.
Information: Cleverly Smart is not a substitute for a doctor. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.
