Table of Contents
Definition:
Coronary Artery disease is blockage of coronary arteries usually caused by the buildup of fatty material called plaque. Coronary artery disease is also known as coronary heart disease, ischemic heart disease, and heart disease. It’s a heart disease where the blood flow is blocked by fat molecules and leads to the stoppage flow of oxygenated blood to our body. There are two major arteries in our body: the right and left coronary arteries. Their main function is to supply blood. If any problems arise here, the supply of blood will be disrupted and leads to many heart complexities even death.
Overview:
Coronary artery disease is also known as ischemic heart disease. It is termed atherosclerosis which in turn leads to blockages. The artery becomes more rigid and soft blood flow is restricted. It is considered the first stage in the development of the plaque. The most severe problem here is plaque could rupture causing heart attack which might cause sudden cardiac death due to congestive heart failure.
Coronary artery disease is caused by atherosclerosis. It builds up plaque inside arteries. It consists of cholesterol and fatty substances. Plaque can clog or damage your arteries which limits or stops blood flow to your heart muscle. If your heart doesn’t get enough blood, it can’t get oxygen. This condition is called ischemia. Not getting enough blood supply to your heart muscle can lead to chest discomfort or chest pain which is called angina. It can also lead to a heart attack.
How does it occur?
It actually happens in all but the speed is different from one to another. The process usually starts from a very young. Before teens, the blood vessel walls start to show a streak of fat. Plaque deposits in arteries’ inner walls, your body fights back against this ongoing process by sending white blood cells to attack the cholesterol but this attack causes more inflammation.
The thin cap over the plaque can break down due to blood pressure or other causes. Blood cell fragments called platelets stick to the injury site causing clots to form. The clot further blocks arteries. Sometimes a blood clot breaks apart on its own. Other times the clot blocks blood flow through the artery, depriving the heart of oxygen and causing a heart attack.
People who are sensitive to this coronary artery disease are:
- Persons who are having high cholesterol levels which are bad cholesterol.
- Persons with high blood pressure.
- Having heredity from heart disease.
- People with diabetes.
- Who is addicted to smoking.
- Post menopausal woman.
- Suffering from being overweight.
- Physically inactive people.
Symptoms:
The main symptoms of coronary artery disease are:
- Chest pain
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Uneven heartbeats
- Difficulty in breathing.
How coronary artery is diagnosed?
It is diagnosed by many tests. Some of them are:
Electrocardiograph tests exercise stress tests, pharmacologic stress tests, echocardiograms, blood tests, other diagnostic tests are nuclear imaging, computer tomography angiograms.
- Treatment:
It aims at lowering the risk of heart attacks but it can not be completely cured. Some of them include relieving symptoms, widening of clogged arteries, making your life healthy, and preventing complications of coronary heart diseases. We have to make a healthy habitat, overweight people should lose weight, don’t take on too much stress and the main thing is to exercise frequently.
Importance of this chapter in NEET:
This chapter is very crucial in zoology. You can accept approximately five bits. It’s easy to understand and needs little focus and you will get high marks in your competitive exams. This chapter is very crucial for scoring high as the concept is little but it gives better results in the exam with high scores. Don’t neglect it.
Also read: Important Topic of Biology: Artificial Kidney
FAQs
What are coronary artery diseases?
Coronary artery disease is also known as ischemic heart disease. It is termed atherosclerosis which in turn leads to blockages. The artery becomes more rigid and soft blood flow is restricted. It is considered the first stage in the development of the plaque. The most severe problem here is plaque could rupture causing heart attack which might cause sudden cardiac death due to congestive heart failure.
What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?
The main symptoms of coronary artery disease are: Chest pain, Sweating, Dizziness, Uneven heartbeats, Difficulty in breathing.
Q. Who is more sensitive to coronary artery disease?
Ans: People who are sensitive to this coronary artery disease are:
- Persons who are having high cholesterol levels which are bad cholesterol.
- Persons with high blood pressure.
- Having heredity from heart disease.
- People with diabetes.
- Who is addicted to smoking.
- Post menopausal woman.
- Suffering from being overweight.
- Physically inactive people.
Write some ways by which we can avoid coronary artery diseases?
It aims at lowering the risk of heart attacks but it can not be completely cured. Some of them include relieving symptoms, widening of clogged arteries, making your life healthy, and preventing complications of coronary heart diseases. We have to make a healthy habitat, overweight people should lose weight, don't take on too much stress and the main thing is to exercise frequently.
How does coronary artery disease occur?
It actually happens in all but the speed is different from one to another. The process usually starts from a very young. Before teens, the blood vessel walls start to show a streak of fat. Plaque deposits in arteries' inner walls, your body fights back against this ongoing process by sending white blood cells to attack the cholesterol but this attack causes more inflammation. The thin cap over the plaque can break down due to blood pressure or other causes. Blood cell fragments called platelets stick to the injury site causing clots to form. The clot further blocks arteries. Sometimes a blood clot breaks apart on its own. Other times the clot blocks blood flow through the artery, depriving the heart of oxygen and causing a heart attack.
