The Spotlight Series: coronary heart disease – Health and Happiness – Castanet.net

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The Spotlight Series is a series of articles looking at common, and preventable, diseases. I explain the science behind the condition, how to spot early signs and what you can do to prevent it.

The science

Coronary heart disease (also known as cardiovascular disease, or ischaemic heart disease) is one of the leading causes of death in Canada. It is also relatively preventable, by making small lifestyle adjustments.

Coronary heart disease is caused by a build-up of atheromas along the lining of the arteries around the heart (coronary arteries). Atheromas are deposits, made up largely of fat and cholesterol. This build up in the walls of the arteries makes the arteries narrower, which is called atherosclerosis.

This narrowing of the arteries means that the heart receives less blood. This can cause a variety of problems, the most common of which is angina. Angina is chest pain, that is brought on when the heart isnt getting enough blood. This can be because of physical activity or stressful situations, where the heart is beating faster and therefore requires more blood.

Another form of coronary heart disease is a myocardial infarction, or heart attack. This occurs when the arteries become completely blocked, meaning the heart isnt receiving any blood.

Heart failure can also be a consequence of coronary disease, as the heart becomes too weak to pump blood properly around the body. This can happen either suddenly or gradually.

Signs and symptoms

Angina causes chest pain that is typically associated with a heaviness, tightness or uncomfortable sensation, that may spread to the jaw, neck, arms or back. Angina is often triggered by exercise, and will pass quickly when you rest or use a nitrate spray.

If the pain doesnt go away when you rest, or if the pain is particularly severe, it may be a heart attack. People also experience symptoms like nausea, sweating, feeling faint or short of breath. If you experience these symptoms, call 911 immediately, as this is a life-threatening emergency.

Heart failure can happen gradually or suddenly, and usually presents with shortness of breath. This is due to a build up of fluid in the lungs because the heart cant effectively pump fluid around the body.

How to prevent heart disease

Luckily, you can reduce your risk of getting coronary heart disease easily by keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the normal range.

Eating a cardio-protective diet is the best place to start. Here are the key aspects of the cardio-protective diet:

The heart is a muscle like any other, and so its important to treat it as such. Giving it regular exercise is the best way to keep it healthy and prevent the onset of disease. Regular exercise keeps your circulatory system efficient, reduces your cholesterol, and keeps your blood pressure at a healthy level.

As well as eating well and exercising to protect your heart, giving up smoking is a hugely important part of preventing disease. Smoking is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, as it causes the blood to be more sticky, and likely to atherosclerose.

Good news: drinking alcohol (albeit in small doses, and in low sugar forms) is actually a positive thing for heart health. Enjoy a glass of this regions awesome wine once or twice a week, and know that its on doctors orders! However, any alcohol in excess is not good, and binge drinking increases the risk of a heart attack. Be sensible.

Take home message

You guessed it its my motto! Eat well, exercise, and be aware of the signs and symptoms. If you believe you may be suffering from heart disease, speak to your family doctor. Even if you have heart disease, it is possible to reverse some of the damage to your arteries. Get in touch if you have any questions, or want to discuss this topic more.

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The Spotlight Series: coronary heart disease - Health and Happiness - Castanet.net