Coronary Heart Disease

Benjamin Maglajac

Coronary Heart Disease

What is Coronary Heart Disease

According to the American National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a disease where fatty deposits called plaque builds up on the inside of the coronary blood artery. The gradual build up of this fatty material inside an artery causes the flowing path of the blood to narrow and is called atherosclerosis (Figure 1). This condition then leads to hindering of proper supply of the heart with oxygen rich blood

 

Figure 1 (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cad)

The Effects of CHD

Due to the decreased flow of blood towards the heart the heart muscle will not be sufficiently supplied with oxygen which makes it unable to work properly. Effects of that can be a pain in the chest called angina. Similar symptomes which can occur due to atherosclerosis in the coronary heart artery are arhythmiasin, problems with the rate or rithm of the heartbeat or heart attack which can lead to death. According to thrombosisadviser.com CHD is one of the most common causes of death in the US and Europe and its symptoms are causing 2.5 million hospitalizations every year.

Factors leading to CHD

The plaque causing CHD is made up of cholesterol and other waste substances. According to nhs.uk the build up of these waste substances inside the arteries is fostered by the following factors.

-         Family History of CHD

-          high cholesterol level in the blood: as cholesterol is one of the main components of plaque, a high concentration of it in the blood can cause it to build up on the inside walls of the arteries. However we also have to take the level concentration of the two different lipoproteins in the blood into consideration. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) transport cholesterol from the liver to the cells while high density lipoproteins (HDL). While LDL tends to build up and form plaque, a low level of HDL increases the risk of getting

-          high blood pressure:  high blood pressure damages the inner artery walls, which makes waste materials more likely to build up and form plaque

-          diabetes: diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels increases the risk of plaque building up inside the arteries

-          smoking: carbon dioxide and nicotine in the smoke make the heart work faster and thereby increase the blood pressure. Furthermore the increase the risk of blood clots. Other chemicals in cigarette smoke can damage the lining of the coronary arteries, leading to furring of the arteries

-          lack of exercise: regular exercise helps to clear arteries. If there is a lack of exercise the risk of plaque building up increases

Correlations of CHD and our diet

Reading about the causes of CHD it becomes clear that many of these causes should be preventable with help of a healthy diet. The risk of getting diabetes for example can be lowered by renouncing foods that contain processed sugars such as sweets or sugary drinks. Instead it is better to eat a lot of fruits as a source of sugar. Furthermore it is important to know that saturated fats and trans fats (artificial fats) which are found in foods like cheese, cream or sausages increase the level of LDL in our blood and therefore increase the risk of CHD. So instead we should rather eat saturated fats which can be found in fish or nuts. Also, salt should be limited in a healthy diet as it raises the blood pressure and therefor increases the risk of getting CHD.

Although it seems very logic that a healthy diet can prevent some of the causes of CHD there is not much evidence actually proving this thesis. In order to find a direct correlation between diet and CHD scientists would have to collect the data of many people who would all have to stay on the same diet for a long time. It explains itself why it is hard to control the variables in such an experiment.

Sources

"Coronary Heart Disease - Causes ." Coronary Heart Disease. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.

"What Is Coronary Heart Disease?" - NHLBI, NIH. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.

"Heart Disease." Heart-healthy Diet: 8 Steps to Prevent Heart Disease. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2016.

CHD ( Coronary Heart Diseases)

Coronary Heart Disease

Ana Djurica

Biology HL

25.01.2016.

Mr. Youell

What is CHD?

• Coronary heart disease is a disease caused when a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries, these arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle. Plaque building up in arteries is called atherosclerosis, it occurs over many years.

• Atheroclerosis

 

What are the risk factors?

• Risk factors include:  high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, high blood lipids, high blood cholesterol, family history poor diet, and excessive alcohol, among others. Other risk factors include depression.

What are the signs and symptoms? 

• The most common symptom of CHD is angina. Angina is often referred to as chest pain (chest discomfort, pressure, aching, burning). 

• Shortness of breath occurs when heart can't pump enough blood to satisfy the body. 

• Heart attack may be caused by a completely blocked coronary artery. 

How does a poor diet cause CHD?

• Eating well is also a challenge, when you're leading a fast lifestyle. Knowing what impact your diet has on your heart will help you improve your chances of avoiding potential complications: 
• FATS: Eat foods with unsaturated fats, reduce the amount of butter and shortening in your diet and replacing them with healthier oils such as olive or canola. Limiting your saturated fat intake to less than 7g daily and eating a maximum of 1g of trans fat a day are also recommended.
• SALT AND SODIUM: Too much salt increases blood pressure which is one of the risk factors. The Institute of Medicine recommends keeping sodium intake under 2,300 milligrams daily, which is approximately the same as 1 teaspoon of table salt, but people with heart problems should reduce their intake to 1,500 milligrams. In addition to salt, sodium-filled foods and condiments such as mustard, soy sauce and canned foods are also dangerous. 

Is there anything you can do to prevent CHD?

• Yes! There are numerous way you can do this! 
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Which means-low fat and high fiber. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grain. And as little junk food as possible. 
• Be more physically active and keep a healthy weight.
• If you are a smoker, try quitting or at least reducing. 
• Reduce your alcohol consumption!
• Keep your blood-pressure under control. 

Sources:

• Wikipedia 
• NHC Choices

Factors leading to coronary heart disease (CHD)

What is CHD?

Figure 1- Image showing the location of the coronary
arteries and comparing a normal coronary artery
to one narrowed by atherosclerosis

Coronary Heart Disease is when our coronary arteries (arteries that supply our heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood) become more narrow due to a gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls (Figure 1). This condition is known as atherosclerosis and the fatty material is known as atheroma. Atheroma is also referred to as plaque.
Over time, our arteries can become so narrow that not enough oxygen-rich blood can flow through them to the heart. As a result, we can feel pain and discomfort called angina. On the other hand, if a piece of atheroma breaks off, a blood clot can form, blocking blood flow.

How does CHD develop?

From a young age, cholesterol-loaded plaque can start to deposit in the blood vessel walls. As we get older, the plaque builds up and results in the inflammation of the blood vessel walls as well as a higher risk of blood clots and heart attacks. The plaques release chemicals that encourage the process of healing but cause the inner walls of the blood vessels to be sticky. Other substances such as inflammatory cells, lipoproteins, and calcium then travel through our bloodstream and start sticking to the inside of the vessel walls.
Eventually, it is possible for a narrowed coronary artery to develop new blood vessels that form around the blockage to get blood to the heart. Even so, during times of increased stress or exercise, the new arteries may not be able to supply sufficient oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.

Causes of CHD

As well as the gradual build-up of atheroma, there are factors that can increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis. These include:

• Smoking- The chemicals in tobacco smoke harm our blood cells. They can damage the function of our heart and the structure and function of our blood vessels, therefore increasing our risk of atherosclerosis

• High blood pressure (hypertension)- Hypertension stresses our body's blood vessels causing them to clog and weaken. Additionally, it can lead to atherosclerosis and narrowing of the blood vessels making them more likely to block from blood clots. 

• High blood cholesterol level- When there is too much cholesterol in our blood, it builds up in the walls of our arteries, causing atherosclerosis. 

• Lack of regular exercise- Exercise increases circulation and helps clear arteries. Lack of regular exercise prevents this circulation and cleanup of arteries, increasing our risk of developing CHD.  

• Diabetes- High blood sugar levels increase the chance of buildup of plaque in our arteries, therefore leading to CHD.

• Obesity- Obesity leads to high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which increase our risk of CHD. 

• Family history of CHD

Preventing CHD

There are multiple ways of lowering the risk of developing CHD. Firstly, it is important to take into consideration the factors that increase the risk and prevent these. For example, it is important to regularly exercise, maintain a normal blood cholesterol level as well as a normal blood pressure, etc... Factors decreasing the risk of CHD include:

• Eating a healthy, balance diet- According to nhs.uk, it is recommended to eat a low-fat, high-fibre diet which should include a large amount of fruit and vegetables and whole grains. The amount of salt in the diet should be limited as too much salt will increase blood pressure. There are two types of fat: saturated and unsaturated. It is recommended to avoid saturated fats because they will increase the levels of bad cholesterol in our blood. As seen in Figure 2, sausages, butter, cream, cakes and biscuits are example of foods containing saturated fats. A balanced diet should include unsaturated fats which are found in nuts, seeds, avocados, and oily fish. 

• Reduce alcohol consumption

• Take prescribed medication

Figure 2- Foods containing unsaturated fats vs saturated fats 

Bibliography:

"Coronary Heart Disease - Causes ." Coronary Heart Disease. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2016.

"Hypertension." Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors -. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2016.

"Cholesterol and Heart Disease." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2016.

"How Lack of Exercise Causes Heart Disease." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 30 Oct. 2015. Web. 22 Jan. 2016.

Coronary Heart Disease

 Coronary Heart Disease (CHD, Coronary Artery Disease), happens when atherosclerosis affects the coronary artery leading to the heart.

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which there is an excess of a substance called plaque, which is mainly made from calcium, cholesterol, and fat, in the arteries causing a narrowing or blockage of the oxygen-rich blood's pathway. A variety of factors may lead to atherosclerosis including smoking, excess consumption of alcohol, diabetes, and obesity.
In 2013, CHD caused 8.14 million deaths around the world, being rated as the most common cause of death.

There has been a lot of debate regarding the factors leading to CHD, most of them being the dietary factors. While the risk of high consumption of alcohol (>100g/d) has been shown to lead to a higher risk of CHD than that of heavy smoking(The Bruneck Study), there appears to be an outlier in "the French Paradox". "Epidemiological studies indicate that the consumption of alcohol at the level of intake in France (20-30g per day) can reduce risk of CHD by up to 40%.", says a study conducted all around the world by S. Renaud.

For a long time we believed that saturated fat foods (meat, cheese, butter...) were the primary cause of CHD and related diseases, but recently that has been taken into a debate also, as now the light has been put on trans fats, and researchers are saying that saturated fat can be good in normal doses. Trans fats increase the low density lipoprotein level (LDL) and decrease the high density lipoprotein (HDL), which leads to the build up of plaque, as LDL is the main cause of plaque and HDL removes LDL.

As there are so many factors that affect the risk of getting Coronary Heart Disease, scientist have a very hard time determining exactly how much each factor contributes. For an instance, a person might have the genetic predisposition towards CHD but might also be smoker regularly consume excess alcohol, if so, researchers would have a hard time determining exactly which factor led to the development of CHD in that patient. Also, because there has been so much debate within the scientific community about many factors, and they seem to be coming up with something new or negating something previous regularly, it hard to know what to eat and what not to, as 10 different people will give you 10 different answers. For now, it seems that the safest thing to do is take everything in moderation, as even too much of a good thing can lead to consequences.



Other recources:
-http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis/
-http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/08/31/saturated-fats-heart-disease.aspx
-http://www.acaloriecounter.com/diet/saturated-fat-trans-fat/
-http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/Good-vs-Bad-Cholesterol_UCM_305561_Article.jsp#.VqNiYBUrLIU

-

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) - Yoonsik Park - January. 22. 2016

Factors leading to 

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

What is CHD?

The British Heart Foundation defines it as when fats periodically build up in the walls of the coronary arteries (arteries that pump oxygen-rich blood to the heart) and narrowing them. 

The flow of blood is slowed down or blocked, so the heart may not get enough oxygen-rich blood into it, which would lead to heart attack. According to nhs.uk, it is the leading cause of death worldwide.

Atherosclerosis - is the technical term for a disease in the arteries in which fatty materials build up on the inner walls of the arteries; according to mayoclininc.org 

(picture 1 : http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cad )

As it can be seen in (Picture 1), as the plaque, or fatty substances, builds up in the coronary artery, it narrows it down, getting in the way of normal blood flow. 

(picture 2 - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Blausen_0259_CoronaryArteryDisease_02.png) 

Picture 2 is a more close-up, sideways view of the fatty substances and plaque buildup in the coronary arteries. As you can see, the channel for blood to flow is significantly narrowed. What causes CHD? Let us find out. 

Causes of CHD

Fatty substances are build up in your coronary arteries.

Some factors that may cause the buildup of fatty substances are

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes (High levels of sugar in the blood)
• Obesity, being overweight
• Diet 

1) Smoking - cigarettes are known to be the cause of many health problems. Cardiovascular health-wise, it increases the chance of CHD because it increases blood pressure, raising the risk of blood clotting. It also triggers plaque buildup in the arteries. 

2) High Blood Pressure - according to Sameer A. Sayeed, Doctor in Cardiology, having high blood pressure causes pressure on the arteries, which damages the walls, making it easier for fatty substances to build up on it. 

3) High Blood Cholesterol(fatty, wax like substance) - there is bad cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins, LDL) and there is good cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins, HDL). High levels of LDL will cause buildup in the arteries, and increase your chance of getting CHD. HDL aids in the removal of cholesterol from the arteries, so it is referred to as 'good cholesterol.' High blood cholesterol is usually from being obese, which means there is a problem in your diet, and exercise levels. 

4) Diabetes - high blood sugar level increases the chance of plaque buildup in your arteries, increasing the chance of CHD. 

5) Obesity, Overweight (in adults) - obesity is connected to many causes of CHD such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes.

6) Diet- this is important, as in many cases it can prevent 4 of the causes of CHD mentioned above (high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity) 

Unhealthy diet may lead to CHD. If you eat too much foods (creams, butter, popcorn, sweets, etc) that have high saturated and trans-fats(artificial), and LDL, you may want to change your diet. You want to eat healthy (fruits, vegetables, meat).

However, although there seems to be a correlation of the causes mentioned above and coronary heart disease (meaning that there seems to be a connection), finding exact evidence on the causes of CHD in humans may be hard because it is difficult to conduct experiments on humans where conditions are exactly measured. 

For example, if a research team wanted to see the relationship of a person's diet and CHD, it is hard for a human to stay on a very strict diet. Also there may be other causes that are not taken into account.  

Effects of CHD

The narrowing of the coronary arteries can cause heart damage and heart attack. 

If you experience chest pain, nausea, irregular breathing, and or shortness of breath, you may want to go to the doctor and get checked up. 

Like the public service advertisement (picture 3) you should quit smoking. Also you want to exercise more, eat less junk food and eat healthier. 

(Picture 3 - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Exercise,_Smoking_and_Coronary_Heart_Disease.png/280px-Exercise,_Smoking_and_Coronary_Heart_Disease.png)

We should all be aware of the causes and symptoms of CHD, and try to avoid unhealthy habits if we want to live a healthy, long life. 

Factors leading to Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

CHD is a coronary heart disease where plaque builds up inside someones coronary arteries, slowing the flow of Oxygen and blood to the heart. This is a slow process that takes many years. Heart attacks may occur due to this condition. CHD is both genetic as well as due to unhealthy environment and living. CHD is not only one type of heart disease but it is in fact many different types falling under one category. CHD is a deformity or malformation of the heart that children are born with. This is an issue because 1% or more of the worlds children are affected by CHD that is 8 out of every 1,000 kids who will have a CHD disease. 

There are many different things you can do to help prevent this from occurring. By eating the right foods such as...

• Oily fish - high in omega, Ex. Salmon, Tuna, Trout, etc.
• Vegetables - Ex.broccoli, cabbage, carrots, etc. 
• Fruit - Ex. apples, bananas, oranges, etc. 
• Whole grains - Ex.oatmeal, brown rice, Corn tortillas, etc.  

To decrease your CHD risk you should NOT be or have...

• High blood pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Genetic CHD
• Obese 
• An active smoker

It is shown that men are more at risk of developing CHD at a younger age than women. Also if you are older you have a higher risk of developing CHD.

Bibliography

"What Is Coronary Heart Disease?" - NHLBI, NIH. N.p., 23 Oct. 2015. Web. 22 Jan. 2016. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cad>. 

"How To Prevent and Control Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors." - NHLBI, NIH. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2016. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hd/prevent>.

"CHD." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2016. <http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=15370>http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=15370

Factors leading to coronary heart disease (CHD)

What is CHD?

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the blocking of the arteries that directly supply the heart muscle, with it's necessities such as oxygen rich blood which the cells need in order to function. Without this oxygen rich blood the cells cannot function hence, they die. In the heart we have 2 main coronary arteries, one on the right, the other on the left. They then branch off into many smaller arteries which then provide the heart with the oxygen. Coronary heart disease is usually caused by a condition called atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty material and other substances form a plaque build-up on the walls of your arteries. A diet high in fat and cholesterol can cause a deposit of plaque to form on the inside of the artery, making it narrower and preventing blood supply. As a result of these we can feel pain otherwise known as angina.

How does CHD develop? (The process)

1. Your arteries are shaped like hollow tubes and normally, when healthy their inner walls are smooth and elastic, as shown in Figure 1.
2. CHD develops at a very young age; before a child reaches their teen years the blood vessel walls begin to show streaks of fat.

Figure 1: The process of CHD 

1. As you get older the far on the walls builds up which causes injury to the blood vessel. The cells attempt to heal the walls by releasing chemicals which make the walls stickier so when other substances like proteins, cellular waste products etc. flow through they stick to the walls. However the fat and these other substances then begin forming a material known to us as the plaque. (See Figure 1)
2. As time passes the plaques on the walls develop to different sizes. A plaque is soft to the touch however has a hard cap layer around the outside. If broken, and the inner tissue is exposed platelets (particles in the blood which prevent clotting) travel to the area.
3. If this occurs the arteries narrow even more.

It is possible for a narrowed artery to produce new blood vessels which form around the blockage and allow the blood passage into the heart. Regardless, during increased exercise activity the newly formed arteries still may fail to supply a sufficient amount of oxygen needed.

Causes of CHD?

Certain factors which may be a benefactor to the destroyed inner walls of the artery are;

• smoking (chemicals in the tobacco harm our blood cells)
• high levels of fats/cholesterol in the blood (when there is too much cholesterol in our blood it builds up in the walls of the arteries)
• high blood pressure (also known as hypertension; it stresses our blood vessels which causes them to clog)
• high sugar in the blood (diabetes/insulin resistance; increase the chances of the build up of plaque)
• lack of exercise (when we exercise our circulation increases which clears the arteries)
• family history of CHD

How do we prevent it?

There are multiple ways in which to prevent or delay the risk of developing CHD. Some of these include lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This is achieved through numerous ways.

One of the key ones is managing and withholding a healthy and balanced diet. A low fat, high fibre diet is the way to go. It should include a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grained goods. Limits should be put on spices such as sat as sat increases blood pressure.

We enjoy two types of fat; saturated or the ''bad fat'' and unsaturated, the ''good fat''. To decrease the risk of CHD, saturated fats should be avoided as they increase cholesterol levels in your blood. Some foods with high saturated fats are; butter, cream, hard cheese, cakes, palm oil, meat pies etc. The unsaturated fat, or the ''good'' fats are found in foods like oily fish, avocados, nuts and seeds, vegetables oils etc.

Although it is important to have both, a decrease in the intake of sugar will also decrease the risk of diabetes which dramatically increase the development of CHD.

Bibliography:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cad/causes

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/disorders/coronary-artery-disease/caddevelop

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Coronary-heart-disease/Pages/Prevention.aspx

Coronary Heart Disease

Figure 1 - The artery on the right is a normal healthy artery.
The artery on the left is suffering from CHD since
it's walls are narrowing because of the fatty deposits.

Figure 2 - This diagram shows the dangers of atherosclerosis. The artery in
the middle right, has been developing atherosclerosis and has been filling up
with plaque reducing blood flow. The bottom artery is blocked which
could lead to heart attacks and strokes due to no oxygen through the blood.

Different types of fat can have many different outcomes on human health. However, the main concern and the most harmful issue is the coronary heart disease (CHD).  When CHD occurs the coronary arteries in our circulatory system, are blocked by fats, which lead to harmful outcomes such as blood clotting and heart attacks. Our hearts and all other muscles in our bodies need oxygen to function. Due to diseases such as CHD, the oxygen rich blood is unable to reach our hearts (and other muscles) because the arteries have developed a blockage. These fatty deposits are also known as plaque which cause the blockage. Plaque is made out of cholesterol and other fatty substances.

Due to the buildup of plaque, over the course of several years, one is able to develop a condition called Atherosclerosis, which in fact is the hardening of the arteries, where the plaque builds up inside the arteries’ walls. The plaque is able to harden and even break off over time. The hardened plaque narrows the arteries which results in the decrease of oxygen rich blood flow to the heart. If the plaque breaks off or ruptures it is able to create a blood clot which could for the most part block blood or completely block blood flow through the coronary arteries. This leads to heart attacks and strokes. If heart attacks and strokes are not treated quick, the consequences can be fatal for the patient.

The fatty deposits which are made of fats play a big role in the development of CHD. One of the fats that have impact is saturated fats. Saturated fats are a fatty acid with single bonds between the carbon atoms containing extra hydrogen. Saturated fats are able to raise the levels of cholesterol in your blood. High levels of cholesterol are the key factor of plaque formations which cause CHD.  Another fat is the unsaturated fatty acid which consists of one or more carbon bonds. However, unsaturated fats can assist to decrease high cholesterol levels in the bloodstream and simultaneously lowering the risk of heart diseases such as CHD. Another fat that plays a big role in CHD are trans-fatty acids which are a result of the hydrogenation process from oils. According to the American Heart Association, the trans- fats will increase the harmful (LDL- low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels but lower the good (HDL – High density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels. This Association also states that the consummation of trans- fats will increase ones’ risks of developing heart diseases such as CHD, strokes, and type 2 diabetes.

Figure 3 - This diagram shows an artery under high
blood pressure. The blood pressure is high enough to
damage the walls of the artery and the heart.

There are many factors which increase ones chances of developing heart diseases such as high blood pressure, smoking, obesity and stress. The blood pressure is one of the factors that leads to CHD since if the blood pressure is constantly high it can damage the heart and aid to develop plaque in the artery walls. Obesity or overweightness raises risks of CHD and other issues people who suffer from obesity have other preexisting factors that contribute to the development of heart problems through high levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, diabetes and blood pressure. Smokers also have a higher chance of developing CHD because tobacco triggers a buildup of plaque on the artery walls. Smoking can also cause blood clots which could potentially lead to heart attacks. Stress, anxieties and other similar issues may trigger one’s arteries to tighten. Therefore the blood pressure would increase potentially establishing CHD.

Works Cited: 

"What Is Coronary Heart Disease?" - NHLBI, NIH. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.

"Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors." - NHLBI, NIH. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016

"Good vs. Bad Cholesterol." Good vs. Bad Cholesterol. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.

"Trans Fats." Trans Fats. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.

Allott, Andrew. IB Biology Course Compagnion. N.p.: Oxford, n.d. Print.

Coronary Heart Disease

Matija Draskovic

Biology 11

1/18/2016

Coronary Heart Disease

The heart like any other muscle in the human body requires adequate blood supply in order for then it to provide the rest of the body with oxygen. This then allows the muscles to contract and to pump. Due to the blood pumping, it provides the whole body with enough blood, and not only does it do this with the rest of the body it also pumps blood to the heart itself. Since this is a very fragile process the heart is open to major heart diseases, one of them being coronary heart disease.

What is Coronary Heart Disease?

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is when the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart narrow down, and become tighter, as seen in figure 1. This is due to the buildup of plaque in the arteries that become narrowed by a gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls. “This condition is called atherosclerosis and the fatty material is called atheroma” (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cad). Thus arteries become harden and therefore the transmission of blood through these arteries slows down or stops entirely. If blood was to stop or in other words if the arteries was clothed up angina or a heart attack are possible to occur.

Figure 1: Shows the heart and the blockage of the blood flow by the plaque (fatty acids)

What are the risk factors?

Many risk factors resulting in coronary heart disease include the diets that people intake, along with other important factors, like unhealthy blood cholesterol levels: this includes high LDL cholesterol (which is referred to as “bad” cholesterol) and low HDL cholesterol (otherwise known as “good"). Along with these risk factors others include: high blood pressure, smoking, insulin resistance, diabetes and lack of physical activities (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cad/atrisk).Foods that contain high saturation and tran fats, sodium, cholesterol and many of the other risk factors I have mentioned above can add on to the risk of obtaining coronary heart disease, which will most likely lead to a heart attack. People who are more likely to suffer from a heart disease should therefore substitute each one of these fatty acids with other healthier options. Diet is therefore the key to curing or rather treating CHD. The good and the bad news about these risk factors are that some are changeable while others irreversible.

Figure 2: Shows how cholesterol blocks the heart artery and slows down the transmission of blood

Symptoms based on CHD

Symptoms that usually/generally follow this type of disease (CHD) are chest pain or discomfort. People have told that it feels as if “you have someone squeezing your heart”. This may be felt underneath the sternum, neck, arms or stomach. This is generally known as angina. One of the ways to test your heart activity is through an EKG scan, which is the most common/reliable and least painful method (http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/electrocardiogram). Doctors usually test your heart activity in order to receive information about your conditions.  Along with EKG scans, stress testing is a great way in order to see if there is irregularity with the way your heart beats, or generally your heart. Other ways include x-rays and blood samples.

Why is finding results for CHD difficult?
Even though we can get information data regarding CHD from animals, they do not necessarily resemble the same causes in humans. While human experiments is also possible, many people are not prone to following strict diet plans and exercises, they would rather risk their health in order to enjoy bad habits. Since DNA can also effect CHD in different people finding a group of people with similar genetic material could be close to impossible, unless the person has a fraternal twin.

Treatments and Prevention 

The best treatment and protection from this disease is to live a healthy lifestyle. Quitting smoking and eliminating fatty foods is the first step to treating CHD.  If an individual has a more severe condition, actions such as, medication, and surgery (like EKG) are crucial for further treatment of the disease.

Figure 3: Shows a normal heart in comparison to the sick one

Word count:634

Bibliography: 

   
        Allott, Andrew, and David Mindorff. IB Biology. 2014 ed. Oxford: Oxford U, n.d. Print.

     "Coronary Heart Disease: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8 Dec. 2014. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. <https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007115.htm>.

  "Coronary Heart Disease." - Heart Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. <https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/conditions/coronary-heart-disease>.

       "Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors." - NHLBI, NIH. US Department of Health and Service, 23 Oct. 2015. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hd/atrisk> 

       

        "How Can Coronary Heart Disease Be Prevented or Delayed?" - NHLBI, NIH. US Department of Health and Service, 23 Oct. 2015. Web. 21 Jan. 2016. <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cad/prevention>.

        "What Is an Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) Test?" WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. <http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/electrocardiogram>