Coronary Heart Disease - The Circulatory System In Humans

What is Coronary Heart Disease?

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a condition where blood flow to the heart is obstructed due to blockages or narrowing of the coronary blood vessels. Coronary blood vessels are responsible for supplying oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. When blood flow is obstructed, the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen and nutrients, which can lead to various health problems, including heart attacks.

What Causes Coronary Heart Disease?

The main cause of CHD is atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque (fatty substance) in the walls of the coronary arteries. This plaque can form due to:

High cholesterol: Bad cholesterol (LDL) can build up in the artery walls and form plaques.

High blood pressure: High blood pressure can damage the artery walls and make them more susceptible to plaque buildup.

Diabetes: Diabetes can increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, as well as damage artery walls.

Smoking: Smoking damages the artery walls and increases the risk of plaque buildup.

Lack of exercise: Exercise helps increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels and lower blood pressure.

Obesity: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Family history: Having a family with a history of CHD increases the risk of developing the disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease

Symptoms of CHD can vary from person to person. Some people may not feel any symptoms at all, while others may experience severe symptoms. Common symptoms of CHD include:

50. Chest pain
50. Shortness of breath
50. Fatigue
50. Dizziness or fainting

Diagnosis Process of Coronary Heart Disease

Your doctor will diagnose CHD based on several things, including:

50. The patient's medical history
50. Symptoms the patient is experiencing
50. Physical examination
50. Diagnostic tests, such as:

1. Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test measures the electrical activity of the heart.
2. Cardiac stress test: This test looks at how the heart reacts to physical activity.
3. Echocardiogram: This test looks at images of the heart using sound waves.
4. Coronary angiography: This test looks at the coronary blood vessels using X-rays.

Treatment Options for Coronary Heart Disease

Treatment of CHD depends on the severity of the disease and the symptoms the patient is experiencing. CHD treatment options include:

50. Lifestyle changes
50. Medications
50. Interventional procedures
50. Surgery