Coronary heart disease, also referred to as ischemic heart disease, is when the coronary arteries (the ones that supply blood to the organ) are narrowed by a build-up of fat, called atheroma, within the walls. This means that the heart is unable to get as much oxygen rich blood as it needs. It is the most common form of circulatory disease.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the biggest killers in the UK, and the leading worldwide cause of death in recent years. In the UK one person dies of CHD every 8 minutes, and 1 in 8 men and 1 in 14 women die from it. Due to this it is no wonder that there is a large allocation of resources to research into heart disease.
Heart disease itself is caused by the build-up of atheroma in the arteries, limiting oxygenated blood to the heart. Although this is limiting in itself, it is possible for parts of the fatty build-up to break off and form a blood clot, completely cutting off the blood supply and resulting in a heart attack.
What Causes Coronary Heart Disease?
Coronary heart disease is caused when the coronary arteries become clogged and struggle to provide the organs with enough oxygen, blood and nutrients. This is caused by fatty deposits narrowing the arteries and therefore decreasing blood flow.
Anyone can get CHD, but there are a number of risk factors which can increase a person’s chances of developing it.
Age
As a person ages, their chances of developing heart disease increases. People over the age of 65 are more likely to suffer from heart disease than someone younger. This is because ageing changes the way the heart and blood vessels work. The heart cannot beat as fast during periods of activity and stress.
Changes to the heart such as irregular heartbeat, thickening and stiffening of the heart valves, and an increase in the size of the heart chambers making it slower to fill with blood can also increase the risk of heart disease.
Gender
Men are usually at a greater risk of developing CHD; however, the risk for women increases after menopause. There are a number of suggested reasons why CHD is more common in men, such as men generally having more stressful jobs, often paying less attention to their health and wellbeing. Fatty build-up in blood vessels also occurs in different areas between the two sexes; build-up for men will often take place in the larger, vital arteries. On the other hand, for women this build-up tends to occur in the smaller blood vessels.
Some studies have suggested that female hormones offer natural protection against heart disease; however, although the risk of CHD increases after menopause, this is only by a small amount.
Existing Health Conditions
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a huge risk factor for CHD. This occurs when the pressure of the blood in your blood vessel is too high, and this can cause harm to the heart and other major organs. Unfortunately, high blood pressure is often asymptomatic, and can only be gauged by regularly measuring blood pressure.
Hypertension can increase the risk of CHD because of the force it exerts on the artery walls which can lead to damage and therefore increased build-up and narrowing of the blood vessels.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood; this fatty substance can be deposited on the walls of the blood vessels and build up to constrict the flow of blood.
Diabetes
Having diabetes doubles the risk of having heart disease or a stroke. Type 2 diabetes causes too much sugar in the blood. A higher blood sugar level can cause damage to the blood vessels, and the excess sugar in the blood that is not able to be used by the body sticks to red blood cells and builds up in the blood, increasing the risk of blockages in the blood vessels.
Being Overweight
Excess weight leads to fatty material in the arteries and therefore blockages. Though a certain amount of body fat is needed to stay healthy, too much, especially around the waist, can be a health risk and increase the likelihood of coronary heart disease.
There are two types of fat stored in the body. The first one is subcutaneous fat which is the visible fat that many people worry about; however, it is the second type of fat (visceral fat) that is more harmful. Visceral fat is found around the internal organs and can increase risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, which as we know are all risk factors of CHD.
Being Inactive
Not only can being inactive contribute to being overweight, and the health issues associated with that, but it also presents other issues. Maintaining an active lifestyle can reduce risk of CHD by as much as 35%. Like any muscle, the heart needs exercise to work properly, and cardiovascular exercise gets the heart working more intensively to get oxygen to the necessary tissue in the body.
To keep your heart healthy, it is recommended to do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. Medium intensity is anything that makes breathing heavier, the body feel warmer, and increases your heart rate. It doesn’t have to be as difficult as taking up a sport; going for a brisk walk or even mowing the lawn can contribute.
Stress
Stress can lead to inflammation within the body and in turn increase risk of high blood pressure. Stress can also increase the risk of CHD indirectly through poor sleep, less healthy food choices, and less motivation to exercise, which can put the heart at risk.
Smoking
Nicotine and carbon monoxide which are both found in smoke can put a strain on the heart, causing it to work faster. Other chemicals that can be found in cigarette smoke can damage the blood vessels causing them to become more sticky, increasing the likelihood of plaques of fatty materials building up and causing blockages.
Is Heart Disease Hereditary?
People with a family history of coronary heart disease are around 1.5 times more likely to develop CHD themselves. A family history of CHD means that premature heart disease has occurred in first degree relatives. First degree relatives are counted as a parent, sibling, or child, and premature heart disease is under 55 for men and under 65 for women.
Having a history of CAD doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get it; just that you may need to take extra precautions and take extra care of your health.
What Are the Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease?
CAD takes a long time to develop, and many people don’t know they have it until a problem becomes apparent. Often the first sign many people notice that they have heart disease is a heart attack, which later leads to a CHD diagnosis. Other symptoms include chest pain, difficulty catching breath, and fatigue.
How is Heart Disease Diagnosed?
There are several tests that can be done to diagnose coronary heart disease:
- Echocardiogram – this measures how well the chambers of the heart are functioning.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) – checks heart rhythm and electrical activity.
- CaRi-Heart – this test can measure the inflammation of blood vessels around the heart; it is also able to identify the arteries most at risk from being narrowed or blocked in the future.
Is Heart Disease Curable?
CHD cannot be cured, but it can be treated. Treatment can manage symptoms and reduce risk of a heart attack. Treatment can range from lifestyle changes – more activity and a less fatty diet, to angioplasty, which is where stents and balloons are used to widen narrow blood vessels. There are also a number of medicines and surgical options available.
At Little Croft Care Home, we can care for those living with CHD, with tailored care and diet plans, as well as a number of options to get active in a safe way. If you have any questions or concerns about coronary heart disease, then get in touch with our helpful team today.