Coronary Artery Disease: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Coronary Artery Disease Causes, Symptoms and Treatments click withal known as coronary boob disease or ischemic mess board disease is a disease beatd by the buildup of cheek in the coronary arteries, referred to as atherosclerosis which reduces the amount of oxygenated gillyf debase to the center (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). wiener encompasses two pathologies, angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, greennessly recognized as a tenderness attack (Parmet, Glass Glass, 2004). Angina is best set forth by distress or discomfort in the chest argona, pain caused by angina end radiate throughout the body to non-homogeneous muscle aras (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Stoppage of oxygen-rich extraction to particular life muscles military issues in a heart attack, delayed restoration of blood flow can result in severe muscle damage to the heart and possibly shoemakers last (Parmet, Glass Glass, 2004). With approximately sixteen million Americans hapless(prenominal) from and iron, a soulfulness dies every minute as a victim of the disease (American essence Association AHA, 2012). The following paper will comprehensively examine hotdog. bod and Physiology of the HeartThe heart is an essential organ that is responsible for pumping blood all(a) throughout the body and fork oering it with oxygen and nutrients it is the central hub for the cardiovascular brass and acts as the transport system of the body, which performs via electrical conduction activity (Burke et al., 1999). major(ip) anatomical structures of the heart consist of the aorta, the pulmonic artery and vein, coronary arteries and the valves (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). The aorta is the chief(prenominal) artery that pumps the blood out of the heart and to the rest of the body the pulmonary artery and vein transport deoxygenated and oxygenated blood respectively, and the coronary arteries make a crown on the heart muscle and supply the myocardium with oxygenated blood and nutrients (Crawford , 2011). The valves in the heart be responsible for stay freshing backflow of blood and allow the blood to circulate in a uniform fashion (Crawford, 2011). The electrical conduction system of the heart accounts for the beating of the heart allowing it to contract and act as the pump of the body (Burke et al., 1999).CAD PathophysiologyOcclusion of the coronary arteries delinquent to governance buildup leads to a condition called atherosclerosis atherosclerosis refers to the narrowing and curing of the arteries jumper cable to damage to the blood vessels and is a major contributor to galore(postnominal) heart diseases and disorders (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Atherosclerotic brass instruments are formed from lipid and fat deposits such(prenominal) as cholesterol, these formations are indicative of diet as a jeopardize broker in developing CAD (Chandra-Bose, 2012). Arteries are composed of three layers adventita, intima, and media the plaque typically develops between the int ima and media layers (Crawford, 2011). The atherosclerotic plaques narrow the lumen of the arteries create change magnitude amounts of blood to reach the heart and over time harden them causing decreased flexibility during vasoconstriction and vasodilatation (Chandra-Bose, 2012). Additionally, the atherosclerotic plaques can dislodge causing thrombosis and ischemic events, when the coronary arteries function is compromised, the heart does not receive adequate supply of oxygenated blood and nutrients causing decrease cardiac function (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). At clock of stress, the body will try to counteract these changes to achieve homeostasis by exerting more energy than normal however, prolonged exertion initiates a cascade of m all disease processes and pathologies, such as cardiomyopathy, heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and characteristically myocardial infarction (Ruth, 2011).CAD Risk FactorsCAD tends to be the most common cause of finish and disability in t he United States (AHA, 2012). putting green risk factors of CAD are family history, fleshly inactivity, poor diet, smoking and inebriant lesson additionally, health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity are also prevailing risk factors (Ruth, 2011). A soul that has a family history of heart disease is at greater risk of developing CAD physical inactivity, poor diet, and obesity interrelated for developing CAD (AHA, 2012). Obesity has break down an epidemic that affects one in four Americans and results in many a(prenominal) stark consequences, notably CAD (AHA, 2012). Heart disease has become the cause of death in industrialized nations compared to underdeveloped nations due to sedentary lifestyles and an increased usance of fast food (Chan, 2011). One of the most preventable risk factors for any disease is smoking, and for cardiovascular disease it is the number one preventable cause (Ruth, 2011). Other contributing risk factors include age and gender, males are typically more likely to develop CAD at an earlier age than women, however, the risk equalizes in old age (Ruth, 2011). Research has indicated that CAD diametric with diabetes, hypertension, and/or hypercholesterolemia can breed fatal consequences (Chan, 2011).CAD Symptoms virtually patients of CAD are asymptomatic, whereas other patients can present with a intermixture of symptoms such as shortness of breath, tightness around the chest, chest pain, clutch fist, or possibly death patients that do however exhibit symptoms typically tend to concur march on stages of damage to their coronary arteries (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Angina is the real heart pain most patients complain about that is caused by ischemia which is the lack of oxygen supply to a region of the heart (Chandra-Bose, 2012). Patients can experience angina at anytime, however characteristically its exhibited after a person has been involved in an extraneous activity, such as exercise angina can be categorized as stable, unstable, or variableness (McPhee Papadakis, 2011).CAD ComplicationsMyocardial infarction occurs when the heart is deprived of oxygenated blood because of shoot of the atherosclerotic plaque, resulting in a state of ischemia the area of the heart that the damage occurs depends on the vessels that are occluded, exhibiting a variety of symptoms and/or complications (Torpy, Lynm Glass, 2008). Therefore, essentially if a patient experiences a myocardial infarction at a particular region of the heart that area will suffer an ischemic event and kills the heart tissue and makes it dysfunctional (Torpy et al., 2008). Overall, a myocardial infarction has a poor prognosis and tends to lead to morbidity and mortality (Burke et al., 1999).CAD DiagnosisCAD is a condition that develops over time thitherfore, there arent any palpable tests that can indicate if a person is suffering from CAD (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). When examining the onset of CAD, healthcare p roviders consider a patients history, physical exams and relative risk factors (Andraws, Berger Brown, 2005). Healthcare providers utilize electrocardiogram, stress testing, echocardiography, and laboratory testing when examining patients that are at risk of developing CAD (Andraws, Berger Brown, 2005). Electrocardiograms also known as an EKG or ECG detect the hearts electrical activity, rhythm, heart rate, axis, and any abnormal enlargements of the heart an EKG is a quick and in effect(p) way of indicating whether a patient has experienced or is experiencing a myocardial infarction (Andraws et al., 2005). Stress testing can be induced by exercise or medicinal drug for evaluating ischemia in a patient an echocardiography utilizes sound waves to monitor the hearts activity, including the size, shape, and blood flow laboratory testing, such as blood tests are conducted on a regular can to assess the levels of cholesterol, sugar, and proteins such as inflammatory markers (Andraws et al., 2005). Other tools, such as chest x-rays, angiography, positron emission tomography, and cardiac cauterization can be utilized for patients with greater risk factors and/or advanced stages of CAD (McPhee Papadakis, 2011).CAD TreatmentCAD is a complex disease since it encompasses other pathologies (AHA, 2012). However, interposition options for CAD tend to be simple at its early stages, such as lifestyle changes patients are encouraged to partake in alterative lifestyle changes such as daily exercise, eating healthy well-adjusted meals, and stress and weight management comprehensive therapeutic lifestyle changes cooperate regulate the risk of other diseases such diabetes, hypertension and obesity (Ruth, 2011). cure life changes help reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol and maintaining a body mass index of less than 25, which is considered to be normal (Ruth, 2011). For advanced stages of CAD, medication such as anticoagulants, aspirin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and nitroglycerin are prescribed to help reduce symptoms, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent blood clots aspirin is the leading medication to help relieve angina and prevent myocardial infarction (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Patients that have extensive damage to their arteries or have experienced a myocardial infarction may involve medical procedures, such as angioplasty or coronary artery short-circuit grafting angioplasty or percutaneous coronary intervention is a medical procedure done to open block up or narrowed coronary arteries, this is commonly referred to having a stent put in place to prevent future blockage from occurring (Ruth, 2011). Coronary artery short grafting is an extensive surgical procedure done where doctors use blood vessels from other areas of the body that arent blocked to bypass narrowed and damaged coronary arteries, thus improving the blood flow to the heart (Ruth, 2011).ConclusionCAD is a disease caused by the bui ldup of plaque in the coronary arteries, referred to as atherosclerosis which reduces the amount of oxygenated blood to the heart (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Occlusion of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup leads to a condition called atherosclerosis atherosclerosis refers to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries leading to damage to the blood vessels and is a major contributor to many heart diseases and disorders (McPhee Papadakis, 2011).With approximately sixteen million Americans suffering from CAD, a person dies every minute as a victim of the disease (AHA, 2012).Common risk factors of CAD are family history, physical inactivity, poor diet, smoking and alcohol consumption additionally, health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity are also prevailing risk factors (Ruth, 2011). CAD is a condition that develops over time therefore, there arent any palpable tests that can indicate if a person is suffering from CAD (McPhee Papadakis, 2011 ). Treatment options for CAD tend to be simple at its early stages, such as lifestyle changes (Ruth, 2011) for advanced stages of CAD, medication such as anticoagulants, aspirin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and nitroglycerin are prescribed to help reduce symptoms, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent blood clots aspirin is the leading medication to help relieve angina and prevent myocardial infarction (McPhee Papadakis, 2011). Patients that have extensive damage to their arteries or have experienced a myocardial infarction may require medical procedures, such as angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting (Ruth, 2011).