Coronary heart disease: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management

Coronary Heart Disease

Over the last several years, the issue of coronary heart disease (CAD) has been increasingly brought to the forefront. Part of the reason for this, is because of the increasing number of cases that are being reported in developed nations around the globe. Evidence of this can be found by looking at information that was compiled by the American Heart Association. Where, they found that 13 million people are suffering from the disease in the United States alone. Out of this number, there are a total of 1.4 million deaths from the condition. To put it another way, CAD is so prevalent among Americans that it trumps all of the other four leading causes of death to include: chronic lower respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes and automobile accidents. (Rimmerman, 2000) This is significant, because it shows how the disease is becoming an epidemic throughout American society. To fully understand CAD and how it can be prevented requires conducting an examination of the underlying causes. This will be accomplished by, looking at the risk factors and the effects of various preventive measures in reducing the chances of suffering from a heart attack. Together, these different elements will provide the greatest insights, as to the underlying prevalence of the disease and how its impact can possibly be mitigated.

Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease

To fully understand the different risk factors for CAD requires defining the condition and how it can help contribute to a heart attack. Simply put, coronary artery disease is when the arteries and blood vessels will become slowly clogged over the course of time. If left unchecked, the condition can worsen to the point that it will result in the person suffering from a heart attack. As the arteries and blood vessels will become clogged, increasing the chances of fatal heart attack taking place. (Rimmerman, 2000) Over the years, a variety research studies have identified a number of different factors that are helping contribute to the disease to include: age / sex, family history, high blood pressure / high cholesterol, obesity / physical inactivity and stress. ("Coronary Artery Disease," 2010)

When you examine the first factor, age / sex, it is clear that when an individual becomes older the chances increase that they will develop CAD at some point in time. At the same time, men are reporting higher amounts of cases, while the number of women suffering from the disease could see an increase during or after menopause. This is important, because it is highlighting how these two general factors could affect large segments of the population. ("Coronary Artery Disease," 2010)

The second risk factor, family history, is highlighting how there is a direct link between your genetic history and the possibility of being affected by the condition. In general, those who have the highest risk factors include: someone in your immediate family that could be suffering from the condition before the age of 65 years old. This means that if you mother, father, brothers or sisters suffered from CAD before this age. There is a good chance, that you have the possibility of developing the condition. This is important, because it is highlighting the how various genetic factors that can play a major role in determining if you will be susceptible to the disease. ("Coronary Artery Disease," 2010)

The third risk factor, high blood pressure / high cholesterol highlights how these two elements can work hand in helping to clog the arteries. What happens is, when the blood pressure levels of the individual are left unchecked, this could cause a hardening of the arteries. Over the course to time, this will help to increase the effects of CAD, as this increases the process of blocking them. At the same time, high cholesterol levels will improve the chances of plaques and atherosclerosis developing. When you put these different elements together, this means that they both can work to harden and increase the overall rate of blockage that is occurring. At which point, the chances increase dramatically that the effects of the condition could become worse. ("Coronary Artery Disease," 2010)

A fourth risk factor for CAD, obesity / physical inactivity, underscores how the lifestyle choice of an individual, can have an impact upon their underlying levels of health. This is because obesity is caused from the lack of having balanced diet and not engaging in enough physical exercise. These two elements are important because they will cause the underlying amounts of plaque and atherosclerosis to increase. Once this begins to occurs, it will cause the cholesterol levels in the individual to rise. The lack of exercise will help to swell the blood pressure levels, by not providing the body with an effective way to burn fat. As this is causing lipids and other toxins, to build up in the body; which helps to increase your blood pressure dramatically. When your put these different elements together, this is showing how obesity and physical activity will play a direct role in helping to increase blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels. ("Coronary Artery Disease," 2010)

A fifth risk factor of CAD, stress, highlights how this can increase the hardening of the arteries. In this case, stress will cause the underlying amounts of blood pressure to increase. The reason why is because it is keeping the person in a constant state of worry. This will cause the heart to pump faster and adrenaline levels to increase (as this will contribute to high blood pressure). Over the course of time, this can lead to a hardening of the arteries as the high levels of stress will have a direct impact upon the blood pressure. This is significant, because it shows how the underlying amounts of stress can have a direct impact upon your blood pressure, which will increase the chances of developing CAD. ("Coronary Artery Disease," 2010)

The Effects of Various Preventive Measures in Reducing the Chances of Suffering from a Heart Attack