More about coronary heart disease

Drag Health - The most common heart disease is coronary heart disease. This disease occurs when the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is blocked by the plaque in the heart blood vessels or coronary arteries.

At the arterial wall can occur atherosclerosis conditions, namely accumulation of cholesterol and other substances, such as calcium and fibrin, which form blockages or plaques in arteries. Plaques can form on the artery wall even when someone is young. But the more age increases, the higher the risk of plaque formation. If not treated, over time this plaque can cause a decrease in the elasticity of arteries and interfere with the smooth flow of blood.

More about coronary heart disease

The bigger the plaque, the smaller the heart arteries, so that the oxygen-rich blood supply to the heart will be less. Plaques can also be released and then clog most of the bloodstream throughout the arteries. If this obstacle in blood flow occurs in the coronary arteries, a heart attack can occur.

Things that Increase the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

So far, the exact cause of plaque formation in arteries is still unknown. But the following things can increase a person's risk of experiencing atherosclerosis:

Cigarettes

Smoking is one of the factors that most play a role in the increased risk of coronary heart disease. Smokers are predicted to have a 24% greater risk of coronary heart disease than non-smokers. The content of nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes makes the heart work harder than usual. Both of these substances also increase the risk of blood clots in the arteries. Unfortunately, other chemicals in cigarettes can also damage the lining of the coronary arteries, increasing the risk of coronary heart disease.

Cholesterol

Too much cholesterol in the blood can cause coronary heart disease. The type of cholesterol that increases the risk of coronary heart disease is low-density lipoprotein (LDL), commonly referred to as 'bad' cholesterol. Because this cholesterol has the tendency to stick and accumulate in the coronary arteries.

Diabetes

Diabetics are predicted to have twice the risk of developing coronary heart disease. This is presumably because diabetics have thicker layers of blood vessel walls. The thickness of the coronary artery wall can interfere with the smooth flow of blood to the heart.

Blood clots occur

Blood clots or thrombosis that occurs in the coronary arteries will inhibit blood supply to the heart. The process of blood clots is closely related to other factors, such as inflammation, high cholesterol levels, uncontrolled blood sugar, and stress.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure can also increase the risk of coronary heart disease. A person is categorized as having high blood pressure if he has systolic pressure in the range of 130 mmHg or more, or a diastolic pressure of 80 mmHg or more. Systolic pressure itself is defined as a measure of blood pressure when the heart contracts to pump blood out. While diastolic pressure is blood pressure when the heart muscle stretches to fill blood.

How to prevent coronary heart disease

To minimize the risk of coronary heart disease, there are several ways you can do, including:

• Do regular exercise.
• Apply a healthy diet and balanced nutrition, increase the intake of fruits and vegetables, reduce foods that contain cholesterol and excess salt.
• Quit smoking.
• Losing weight if it's excessive.
• Control blood pressure.
• Control stress.
• Enough rest. Research shows that the lack of quality and hours of sleep affect the increased risk of coronary heart disease.

The danger of coronary heart disease will affect your quality of life, it can even lead to sudden death from a heart attack. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you are at high risk of this disease, or even have symptoms of coronary heart disease, such as chest pain that appears when heavy activity or stress, shortness of breath, cold sweat, and chest pain that radiates to the arms and neck.

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