Module 12: Reflection Prompt
Cardiovascular Disease: Coronary Artery Disease
20160413-strong-heart-art.jpg (1640×1159) (chicagohealthonline.com)
Coronary Artery Disease is the most common cardiovascular
disease in the United States. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is due to the buildup of plaque in the walls of the coronary arteries. These arteries are
ones that supply blood to the heart and various parts of the body. Plaque comes
from mostly cholesterol deposits, along with other substances. The buildup of
plaque will eventually cause the narrowing of the arteries over time. This can
partially or completely block the blood flow through the artery.
There are various symptoms for CAD which include: chest discomfort/pain, discomfort or pain in
arms or shoulders, nausea, cold sweat, light-headedness, etc. Over time, if CAD
is not treated, the heart muscles can weaken and can lead to heart failure.
Those who are obese, physically inactive, have unhealthy eating habits, and/or
those who smoke tobacco are at a greater risk of developing CAD. People whose
family has a history of heart disease are at a higher risk of developing this
disease. CAD can be diagnosed through various tests such as EKGs,
echocardiogram, chest x-ray, and exercise stress tests.
A healthy lifestyle can help keep our arteries strong and
clear of major plaque buildup. Those who smoke tobacco and work on quitting the
habit for good. Staying physically active and having a healthy diet while
maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing CAD as well.
Another way to help prevent getting this disease is controlling certain levels
in your body with medication and a healthy lifestyle. Managing your blood
pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes is key to prevention. As with every
disease, managing and even reducing stress levels will also help in preventing
CAD.
Coronary Artery Disease | cdc.gov
Coronary artery disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Hi Kaitlyn! Great post. I did not know that Coronary Artery Disease is the most common cardiovascular disease in the US. I am actually in a human body course right now, so it's interesting to see what diseases affect organs that I have studied. Besides just lifestyle choices, is there anything else that causes this disease? Is it genetic? Either way, it seems like lifestyle has a big impact.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteVery great post. It was super informational. It is crazy how this disease affects so many people yet hasn't been stopped yet. With better decisions, many of the effects could be avoided. I saw this issue a bunch when I worked in the hospital and it always hurt to see them affected.