Introduction

Coronary artery disease develops when the main blood vessels that provide your heart become damaged or diseased. Cholesterol-containing deposits (plaques) in your coronary arteries and inflammation are usually responsible for arteria coronaria disease.The coronary arteries supply blood, oxygen and nutrients to your heart. A buildup of plaque can narrow these arteries, decreasing blood flow to your heart. Eventually, the reduced blood flow may cause pain (angina), shortness of breath, or other arteria coronaria disease signs and symptoms. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack.

Because arteria coronaria disease often develops over decades, you would possibly not notice a drag until you've got a big blockage or a attack . But you'll take steps to stop and treat arteria coronaria disease. A healthy lifestyle can make a big impact.

Symptoms

If your coronary arteries narrow, they can not supply enough oxygen-rich blood to your heart — especially when it's beating hard, like during exercise. At first, the decreased blood flow might not cause any symptoms. As plaque continues to build up in your coronary arteries, however, you may develop the following coronary artery disease signs and symptoms:

Chest pain (angina). You may feel pressure or tightness in your chest, as if someone were standing on your chest. This pain, called angina, usually occurs on the middle or left side of the chest. Angina is generally triggered by physical or emotional stress. The pain usually goes away within minutes after stopping the stressful activity. In some people, especially women, the pain could also be brief or sharp and felt within the neck, arm or back.

Shortness of breath. If your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs, you may develop shortness of breath or extreme fatigue with activity.

Heart attack. A completely blocked arteria coronaria will cause a attack . The classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack include crushing pressure in your chest and pain in your shoulder or arm, sometimes with shortness of breath and sweating.

Causes

Coronary artery disease is assumed to start with damage or injury to the inner layer of a arteria coronaria , sometimes as early as childhood. The damage may be caused by various factors, including:

Ø  Smoking

Ø  High blood pressure

Ø  High cholesterol

Ø  Diabetes or insulin resistance

Ø  Not being active (sedentary lifestyle)

Once the inner wall of an artery is broken , fatty deposits (plaque) made from cholesterol and other cellular waste products tend to gather at the location of injury. This process is called atherosclerosis. If the plaque surface breaks or ruptures, blood cells called platelets clump together at the site to try to repair the artery. This clump can block the artery, leading to a heart attack.

Risk factors

Risk factors for coronary artery disease include:

Ø    Age. Getting older increases your risk of damaged and narrowed arteries.

Ø    Sex. Men are generally at greater risk of coronary artery disease. However, the risk for women        increases after menopause.

Ø     Family history. A family history of heart disease is associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease, especially if a close relative developed heart disease at an early age. Your risk is highest if your father or a brother was diagnosed with heart disease before age 55 or if your mother or a sister developed it before age 65.

Ø    Smoking. People who smoke have a significantly increased risk of heart disease. Breathing in secondhand smoke also increases an individual's risk of arteria coronaria disease.

Ø     High blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in hardening and thickening of  your arteries, narrowing the channel through which blood can flow.

Ø     Diabetes. Diabetes is related to an increased risk of arteria coronaria disease. Type 2 diabetes and arteria coronaria disease share similar risk factors, like obesity and high vital sign .

Ø     Overweight or obesity. Excess weight typically worsens other risk factors.

Ø      Physical inactivity. Lack of exercise is also related to arteria coronaria disease and a few of its risk    factors, as well.

Ø    High stress. Unrelieved stress in your life may damage your arteries also as worsen other risk factors   for arteria coronaria disease.

Prevention

The same lifestyle habits wont to help treat arteria coronaria disease also can help prevent it. A healthy lifestyle can help keep your arteries strong and beyond plaque. To improve your heart health, follow these tips:

Ø  Quit smoking.

Ø  Control conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Ø  Stay physically active.

Ø  Eat a low-fat, low-salt diet that's rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Ø  Maintain a healthy weight.

Ø  Reduce and manage stress.

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