Coronary Heart Disease - Causes, Symptoms and Prevention
Coronary heart disease is also called coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease, this is a form of heart disease that is caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries. Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease. Coronary heart disease causes almost all heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Healthy coronary arteries have flexible walls that provide blood to the heart. However, over the years, the flexible walls can be damaged by substances such as fat, cholesterol, calcium, and platelets (small cells that are responsible for blood clotting). When the arterial wall is damaged, these substances can be "attached" arterial wall that will eventually narrowing of the coronary arteries. This condition is referred to as coronary heart disease.
Buildup in the arterial wall is a process called atherosclerosis. This process produces a substance known as plaque. Such as buildings, plaque like dirt that accumulates in the pipelines of your home. As the impact of the increasingly heavy dirt buildup, which flows through the pipe may be reduced or even completely stopped. Similarly, when your heart is not getting enough oxygen because of narrowed arteries, you may feel pressure in the chest or pain called angina. If the blood supply to part of the heart is completely halted because of this narrowing, the result is a heart attack.
Every person has atherosclerosis as they age. For most of us, atherosclerosis begins early in life. Some people have a rapid increase in the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques after 30 years old and for some people, plaque buildup is not a problem until she was at 50 or 60 years.
Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
Although we do not know for sure about the causes of coronary heart disease, why atherosclerosis occurs or even how this process begins. Some medical experts believe that atherosclerotic buildup in the inner lining of the arteries can be caused by several conditions, including:
- Increased levels of LDL (Low-density lipoprotein).
- Low levels of HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein).
- High blood pressure.
- Tobacco smoke.
- High levels of blood sugar (diabetes mellitus).
- Inflammation.
Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease
Symptoms of heart disease is not always the same for every kind, among the various existing heart disease, the symptoms will be different for each despite the similarities between all of them remains. For coronary heart disease, the most common symptom is chest pain or called Angina. In addition, there are also minor symptoms for one type of heart disease, namely:
- hard to breathe
- fatigue
- weakness or dizziness
- excessive sweating
- palpitations (this is an irregular heartbeat)
- rapid heart beat
- nausea and sweating.
Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease
Below are four main guidelines for coronary heart disease but must demonstrate that both excessive drinking and frequent and / or high stress levels have been indirectly linked to coronary heart disease.
1. Watch what you eat
Saturated fat is the main culprit in the formation of arterial plaque. Reduce consumption of saturated fats not only can stop the progression of coronary heart disease but may be able to reverse the condition. According to the American Heart Association saturated fat intake should be no more than 10 percent of calories to maintain the status quo and less than 7 percent for the possibility of reducing existing plaque deposits.
2. Stay away from cigarettes and cigarette smoke.
Smoking or cigarette smoke will increase bad cholesterol, lower good cholesterol and lead to narrowed arteries. Smokers will have the possibility of 4 times greater than nonsmokers.
3. Do not let yourself become inactive
Physical activity will greatly help prevent heart disease and blood vessels. The stronger the greater the activity manfaatnya.Selalu a time to exercise to keep your body's overall condition.
4. Watch your weight
The increase in overweight could be the cause of someone having a heart attack or stroke. The more fat, the greater the risks. Being overweight also increases the amount of LDL (bad) cholesterol and other blood fats and reduce HDL (good cholesterol).
