1. Treatment
1.1. What Are The Treatment Courses?
1.1.1. The main reason that CAD is recognized is through a progression of symptoms, which inevitably leads to a dangerour complication; heart attack. This means that along with treatment of the heart attack, administration of treatments for CAD is also necessary. While both treatments are similar there is much more sensitivity that should be acknowledged.
1.1.2. Prevention and Treatment are both quite similar to each other in the sense both can be used to stop/slow the progressive nature of plaque buildup.
1.1.2.1. Quitting Smoking
1.1.2.2. Controlling high blood pressure
1.1.2.3. Controlling High Cholesterol
1.1.2.4. Controlling Diabetes
1.1.2.5. Exercising Regularily
1.1.2.6. Weight/Fat Percentage Maintenance
1.1.2.7. Low-Saturated Fat and Low Sodium Diet
1.1.2.8. Diet Rich In Fruits, Vegetables, and
1.1.2.9. Reduction/Management of
1.1.3. Other treatement options relate more to hospitla/medicinal care rather than lifestyle choics.
1.1.3.1. Medicines to treat risk factors for CAD. Things like high blood pressure, high cholestorol and an irregular heartbeat.
1.1.3.2. Surgical procedures are able to assist in the blood flow to the heart
1.1.3.2.1. Balloon Angioplasty, a surgical procedure able to widen blocked arteries and smother plaque buildup. This is usually done with a stent (for lumen opening purposes)
1.1.3.2.2. A coronary artery bypass graft is able to restory blood flow to the heart in an open chest surgery.
1.1.3.2.3. Enhanced External Counterpulsation; this is able to stimulate formations of small blood vessels which can lead to naturally bypassing clogged arteries. This is non-invasive compared to other operations.
2. What Is It?
2.1. What Is An Artery?
2.1.1. Arteries are thick tubular blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body.
2.2. What Are Coronary Arteries?
2.2.1. Coronary arteries are the vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood.
2.3. What Is Heart Disease?
2.3.1. Heart disease is a group of conditions affecting the heart. Coronary Heart Disease is the most common and the leading cause in death in both men and women worldwide. CAD is the result of cholesterol deposits i.e plaque buildup in the artery wall causing reduced blood flow due to inside artery narrowing; atherosclerosis.
3. Risk Factors?
3.1. Lifestyle
3.1.1. Unhealthy lifestyle choices are the main reason for CAD and are able to as well hasten the onset and progression of symptoms/conditions.
3.1.1.1. Smoking
3.1.1.2. Sedentary Lifestyle
3.1.1.3. Sleep Apnea
3.1.1.4. Extreme Stress
3.1.1.5. Alcohol Consumption
3.1.1.6. Diet high in fatty foods which raise LDL cholesterol and sugar.
3.2. Genetic Predispositon
3.2.1. If a relative has this condition, the likelihood of having it increases.
3.3. Age
3.3.1. As a person ages, the cornary arteries become more susceptible to plaque buildup.
3.4. Gender
3.4.1. Men are more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease than women.
3.5. Underlying Health Conditions. These can be all contribute to heart disease, and the progression of it.
3.5.1. Diabetes
3.5.2. Hypertension (high blood pressure)
3.5.3. High Cholesterol
4. Heart Anatomy?
4.1. Walls
4.1.1. The heart walls consitst of three layers the inner; endocardium, the the muscular layer; myocardium, then the protective outer layer; epicardium. The epicardium is section of the pericardium, a protective sac that encapsules the heart and results in lubrication of the heart in combination with its ability to prevent any friction and contact between other organs.
4.2. Function
4.2.1. The heart is a complex muscle responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. It controls the rhythm and speed of your heart rate, as well as maintaining blood pressure.
4.3. Chambers
4.3.1. It has four chambers. Two upper; atrium (plur. atria) and two lower; ventricles.
4.3.1.1. Right Atrium; The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the superior and inferior vena cava and then empties the blood into the right ventricle.
4.3.1.2. Right ventricle;The lower right chamber pumps the blood to your lungs through the pulmonary artery for the lungs to proceed and oxygenate that blood.
4.3.1.3. Left Atrium; After the lungs fill blood with oxygen, the pulmonary veins carry the blood to the left atrium.
4.3.1.4. Left Ventricle; The blood then makes its way to the left ventricle, which sends the blood to the rest of the body.
4.4. Valves
4.4.1. The chambers are separated by "doors" i.e. valves.
4.4.1.1. Atrioventricular (AV) valves
4.4.1.1.1. Tricuspid; right ventricle + atrium.
4.4.1.1.2. Mitral; left ventricle + atrium.
4.4.1.2. Semilunar (SL) valves
4.4.1.2.1. Aortic; opens when blood flows from left vent. to aortic artery (oxygenated blood).
4.4.1.2.2. Pulmonary; opens when blood flows from right vent. to pulmonary artery (oxygen poor).
4.5. Blood Vessels
4.5.1. The heart pumps blood through three types of blood vessels
4.5.1.1. Coronary
4.5.1.1.1. Oxygenated blood from heart to body.
4.5.1.2. Veins
4.5.1.2.1. Deoxygenated blood to heart.
4.5.1.3. Capillaries
4.5.1.3.1. Oxygen rich and oxygen poor exchange.
4.6. Electrical Conduction System
4.6.1. Conduction Systen
4.6.1.1. Atrioventricular (AV) node: Transports electrical signals from the heart’s upper chambers to its lower ones.
4.6.1.2. Sinoatrial (SA) node: This sends signals that cause the heart to beat.
4.6.2. The hearts also includes electrical bundles and fibers; Left bundle branch, Right bundle branch, Bundle of His, Purkinje fibers.
5. History
5.1. Earliest Reported Case
5.1.1. The earliest reported case of atherosclerosis (narrows arteries) is that of the Ancient Egyptians. Pharaoh Merenptah (died in the year 1203 BCE). Other pharoah mummies studied also show to have had symptoms and probable to definite cases of atherosclerosis, which is an indication of heart disease. The diet of high-status Ancient Egyptians included foods such as; fatty meats from cattle, ducks, and geese.
5.2. What Is Angina
5.2.1. Physician in the 18th/19th century were lost when it came to what know is known to be angina (tightness/chest pain and an indicator of CAD/IHD).
5.2.1.1. In 1768, William Heberden was the first to describe it was believed by many to have "something to do with blood circulating in the coronary arteries". By some it was believed to be a harmless condition.
5.2.1.1.1. William Osler, John Hopkins Hospital physician in chief and professor of clinical medicine, active during the 19th century, was thought to be the father of indicating that it was infact not a disease in itself but a syndrome.
5.3. Learning To Detect
5.3.1. The 1900s was the real inflation period for interest in the heart and related conditions.
5.3.1.1. This led to the formation of the Association for the Prevention and Relief of Heart Disease, created by healthcare officials in 1915. Later, in 1924 the assembling of the American Heart Association led to advancements such as left heart catheterization, now a common explorational procedure.
5.3.1.1.1. Exemplary pioneers in this field are Egaz Moniz and Werner Forssmann.
5.4. Progression Of Treatments
5.4.1. In the 1960s and 70s, the first uses of balloon angioplasty and bypass surgery were used to aid in the prevalence of heart disease.
5.4.1.1. By 1980, the use of stents can be seen.
5.4.1.1.1. These advances have been the deciding factor between whether heart disease was a death sentence diagnosis or not.
5.4.2. In the 50s, watching diet choices was becoming more and more relavant to heart health.
5.4.2.1. John Gofman discovered that those with atherosclerosis likely had elevated levels of LDL and low levels of HDL.
5.4.2.1.1. This along with population exploration allowed for the general consensus to be that saturated fats, not diets higher in heart healthy fats, put people at higher risks.
5.4.2.1.2. Mono- Polyunsaturated fats have the ability to lower cholesterol levels, alongside this heart health is promoted. Omega-3 fatty acid sources fall into the unsaturated fat category.
5.4.2.2. Ancel Keys discovers that in the Mediterranean populations heart disease was uncommon. The diet typical to these regions was lower in fat. The same was found in Japan.
6. Symptoms?
6.1. Pain In Arms
6.1.1. Pain in the arms and shoulders can be a result of either a heart attack or CAD. Pain in the left arm is one of the most common symptoms of heart attack. The nerves that branch out of the heart share the same brain cells that send signals to the arm, your brain can't tell the difference when trouble occurs and ends up alerting this branch of nerves as well.
6.2. Shortness Of Breath
6.2.1. Shortness of breath is a sign that the heart is not able
6.3. Sweating
6.3.1. As your heart is forced to work harder the body compensates through perspiration to keep temperature levels stable.
6.4. Dizziness
6.4.1. Dizziness in the terms of coronary heart disease is most probably a result of
6.5. Weakness + Cramping
6.5.1. Extreme fatigue can be a sign of issues with heart function. Cramps can indicate that
6.6. Angina
6.6.1. Chest pain
6.6.1.1. One of the most common symptoms and widely known as being related to heart issues.
6.6.2. Heaviness
6.6.3. Tightness
6.6.3.1. This is the most common symptom of CAD as angina is the result of narrowing of the arteries which blocks blood flow.
6.6.4. Burning
6.6.5. Squeezing
6.7. Symptoms In Women
6.7.1. Symptoms in women can be the same as men, usually they instead present with ulterior symptoms.
6.7.1.1. Nausea
6.7.1.2. Vomiting
6.7.1.3. Back Pain
6.7.1.4. Jaw Pain
6.7.1.5. Shortness Of Breath (lack of chest pain)
7. Life With Chronic Disease; CAD?
7.1. There is currently no cure for CAD and even though its physical manifestations are treatable and can be reduced to having very little to no interruption in someones life, the change in being healthy, to having a chronic disease allows for other complications
7.2. Mental Illness
7.2.1. There is a 1 in 5 estimate that someone who receives hospital care after suffering a heart attack will develop treatment-severe depression. Not only this but anxiety is also regularly present as a psychological result of heart disease. While mental illnesses are not only a great burden by themselves the additional stress on mind and body can additionally exacerbate symptoms of heart disease.
7.2.2. Quality of life is, as a result of this can decline. not only is the quality of a patients life improtant in the treatment of diseases, the end goal of any patient treatment, it can also be found that a poor QOL is directly linked to higher hospitalization and mortality rates.