The fatal consequences of the cholesterol deposit within the coronary artery- Condition called Coronary Arteries Disease (CAD).
1. Basic Facts:.
There are many known factors that cause CAD. Some factors may be controlled and some are uncontrollable. The controllable factors include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes and stress. Uncontrollable factors include gender (males are at greater risk), heredity (which shows in family histories of CAD) and age. Although it is possible to develop CAD without these factors, usually each of these factors is known to double the risk of CAD. For instance, if there are three factors shown in a patient the risk increases up to 8 times. Among the many risk factors that can cause CAD, all contribute via one mechanism. Each factor causes artery walls to be thickened and thus narrows the arteries causing slowed or blocked blood flow to the cardiac muscle. Slowed coronary blood flow provides less oxygen to the heart, causing stress to the heart. Eventually a blocked coronary artery stops oxygen transfer to the heart and causes myocardial infarction.
While the statistics shows disturbing data, the rate of heart disease seems to be declining. Between the years of 1999 and 2000, the death rate from coronary heart disease declined 25% , and it is still slowly but steadily decreasing. Many treatment procedures including surgical, pharmaceutical and genetic treatments have been developed, and there are many sophisticated ongoing studies being developed to save more people from heart diseases. However, it is also important to recognize that increased public awareness of the disease has led many people to prevention. People quit smoking, exercise and eat in a healthy manner. While quitting smoking or exercise may need strong will or hard work to accomplish, eating healthy is a relatively easy way to prevent heart disease.
