Coronary Heart Disease Weight Loss Diet Nutrition Tips Guide

Coronary Heart Disease And Preventing A Heart Attack

By Tracy Kerr-Walshe

Coronary heart disease has become the number one cause of death in America and the most common type of heart problem. Research reports have stated that over 12 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease and this condition often leads to a heart attack or stroke.

Every year, about 1.2 million Americans have heart attacks and almost fifty percent of those coronary events result in death. But, also every year there are advancements that help to prevent heart attacks and that can help people to improve their heart conditions.

Your Body Must Have A Constant Supply Of Nutrients And Oxygen

The heart is a muscle, much as any other muscle in your body. However, it is one of the few muscles that is never at rest. In order to perform well, the body must have a constant supply of nutrients and oxygen which is dispatched via the blood through the network of coronary arteries, all powered by the beating of your heart.

The vital flow of blood can be constrained by atherosclerosis, which is a process through which fatty substances, called plaque, build up on the interior walls of the blood vessels. The plaque attracts components of the blood that then stick to the inner surface of the walls as it passes through the vessels.

Atherosclerosis Develops Over Many Years

This process is called atherosclerosis. It can affect any blood vessels in your system and it causes them to become more narrow and also to harden and lose elasticity. This condition develops over the course of many years and depending on genetic, environmental and dietary factors, can even begin during childhood.

In the instance of coronary heart disease, the development of atherosclerosis impairs the function of the arteries because the plaque that builds up can erupt and trigger the creation of a blood clot. The clot can then cover over the ruptured area much like a scab and this further impedes the flow of blood through the damaged area.

Over time the blood clot becomes hard and then the whole process starts anew: fatty buildup occurs, the plaque ruptures, narrowing of the arteries continues and progressively less and less blood is able to reach the heart muscle.

Cardiac Ischemia When The Blood Cannot Travel Through The Heart

Any time not enough blood is able to get to any part of the body, this state is called ischemia. When this happens to the heart, it is referred to as a cardiac ischemia. In an instance where the blood supply is completely or nearly cut off, a heart attack is the result and the cells of the heart muscle begin to die off because of the lack of oxygen. The more time it takes to get treatment and recover, the greater will be the damage to the organ. Because heart cells do not regenerate, the loss of those cells is permanent.

The warning signs when seeking to review your options and that you might be having a heart attack are: pain or discomfort in the middle of the chest area, shortness of breath, discomfort in the neck, jaw, arms, back or stomach, light-headedness or nausea and breaking out with a cold sweat.

Chest Discomfort Is The Most Common Symptom

The most frequent warning sign is the chest discomfort and it is the same for both men and women. It has been reported that females are more likely than males to experience some of the other symptoms, most particularly the shortness of breath, nausea and back or jaw pain.

In addition, women tend to have incidences of coronary heart disease later in life than men, by about 10 years. They routinely also suffer with other diseases in conjunction with the heart conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. This combination of age and other health conditions makes it even more vital for women to receive coronary treatment as quickly as possible.

This Article was about Coronary Heart Disease.

Please Note: All information given on this site is for general information purposes and is not to replace any medical opinion or medical diagnosis given by a qualified medical doctor, a dietitian/nutritional expert or any other medical expert, as individual circumstances may vary. Please see your medical doctor, before any action is taken to alleviate symptoms.

About the Author:
Tracy Kerr-Walshe is an author of articles on health, diet, weight loss and nutrition including Whole Foods, Organic Foods, Healthy Snacks, Effective Weight Loss, Full Body Detox, Juice Fasting.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles coming soon.