Coronary artery disease (
CAD) is actually the single most common
killer in the
United States, being the leading cause of
heart failure. It is linked to severe
obesity, lack of
exercise and proper
nutrition, and generally poor health. Not everyone stricken with CAD is
unhealthy, however, and there are
hereditary factors unrelated to obesity that may produce a tendency toward the condition.
The condition is named for the
arteries that supply fresh oxygenated
blood to the
heart, which, in those stricken by CAD, exhibit tiny
tears on the internal surface of the coronary arteries, which provide a potential
foothold for the buildup of
arterial plaque. Exhibiting risk factors can lead to more tears than the normal individual, or more of a tendency for these tears to cause more buildup. Arterial plaque, composed of excess blood
cholesterol,
calcium deposits, and other deposited material, begins to clog the artery until bloodflow to the heart itself is restricted.
This restriction of bloodflow, when partial, can cause noticeable symptoms, which should be learned and recognized, especially by those with special risk. Most notable is constriction or pain in the chest, tending toward the location of the heart (left side, just below
breast-level). While the pain may not appear immediately, it will tend to be
chronic, so it can be distinguished in this way from normal chest
muscle pain. You will also notice that activity winds you far more quickly than before the onset of the pain. If you have serious chest pain that lasts more than
ten minutes, you should see a
doctor or go to the
emergency room. Take
aspirin to thin the blood, if it is available, and call
911.
Full restriction of bloodflow is called a heart attack. This can lead to
myocardial infarction, or
tissue death of the heart muscle. This can, needless to say,
kill you, or leave you especially susceptible to heart problems in the future, as it leaves your heart with
nullified or limited functionality.
The best '
treatment' for CAD is to avoid risk factors. Don't smoke, eat right, exercise, and all that good stuff, especially if you have a family history that makes you susceptible. However, other treatments, like
angioplasty, may be considered.