Table of Contents
Importance of Arteries
Arteries are important because they carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. Without arteries, the body would not be able to get the oxygen it needs to function.
What is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. The plaque can harden and narrow the arteries, reducing the amount of blood that gets to the heart. This can lead to chest pain (angina), heart attack, or other heart problems.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) become narrowed or blocked. This can reduce or stop the flow of blood to the heart, leading to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, or a heart attack.
CAD is the most common type of heart disease. It is a leading cause of death in the United States.
There are several risk factors for CAD, including:
-smoking
-high blood pressure
-high cholesterol
-diabetes
-obesity
-family history of CAD
-age
-male gender
-race (African Americans are at higher risk)
There are several ways to reduce your risk of CAD, including:
-quitting smoking
-lowering blood pressure
-lowering cholesterol
-managing diabetes
-maintaining a healthy weight
-exercising regularly
-eating a healthy diet
If you have CAD, you may need to take medication to help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control, and to prevent blood clots. You may also need to take medication to prevent or treat chest pain.
If you have a heart attack, you may need surgery to open blocked coronary arteries. This surgery is called coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
What Are The Causes of Coronary Artery Disease?
There are many potential causes of coronary artery disease (CAD), including:
-Smoking
-High blood pressure
-High cholesterol
-Diabetes
-Obesity
-Sedentary lifestyle
Other factors that may increase your risk of developing CAD include:
-Age
-Gender (men are more likely to develop CAD than women)
-Family history
-Race (CAD is more common in African Americans and Hispanics)
-Poor diet
-Stress
Some of these risk factors cannot be changed (e.g. age, gender, and family history), but others can be controlled through lifestyle changes and medication.
Triggers For The Coronary Artery Disease
There is not one single cause for coronary artery disease. Rather, it is the result of a combination of factors that increase a person’s risk for the condition. Some of the most common triggers include:
Smoking
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Obesity
A family history of coronary artery disease
A sedentary lifestyle
Stress
Excessive alcohol consumption
