2. Causes
Coronary Heart Disease is a disease in which a waxy substance
known as plaque accumulates inside the coronary arteries. (3)
Data accumulated from various studies suggest that the a
person prone to CHD can be determined by certain features in
their life: (2)
1. Genetic factors
2. Sex of individual
3. High blood cholesterol level
4. Hypertension
5. Diabetes
6. Smoking
7. Physical inactivity
8. Stress
3. Cause cont.
CHD starts when the inner layer of coronary
arteries are damaged. Plaque begins to build
up at the damaged sites and cause narrowing
of the arteries. (3)
If the plaque ruptures, blood clots form and
further narrow the coronary arteries, which in
turn can cause heart attacks in the individual.
(3)
4. Figure 1: Myocardial infarction(heart muscle)
myocardial infarctions can happen when the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked
from oxygen rich blood. (1)
5. Metabolic pathways, organelles, organs, and
organ systems involved
The most widely held theory of CHD is the disturbance in lipid
metabolism. (2)
The deposition of lipids and lipoproteins in the intima of the coronary
artery and development of lesions on the coronary arteries may
depend on 3 factors:
1. The plasma content of lipids or lipoproteins
2. Arterial blood pressure and other mechanical factors that filter
lipids as lipoproteins from blood plasma
3. The structure and function of the arterial tissue. Permeability of
the arterial tissue also pays a role in this theory.(2)
The main organs that are involved in CHD are the heart and arteries.
(1)
The cardiovascular system and the muscular system both play
important roles in CHD. The cardiovascular system supplies the heart
with blood thru the coronary arteries, and the muscular system uses
the heart muscle to push the blood through the coronary arteries.(1)
6. Symptoms
The most common symptom of CHD is Angina, which is chest
pain that is caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen rich
blood to the heart muscle.(3)
Another common symptom of CHD is shortness of breathe,
which is brought on by left or right side heart failure or both
sided heart failure.(2)
Arrhythmia is also a symptom of CHD. It is a complication in
the rate, rhythm, or rhythmicity of the heart muscle. (2,3)
8. Genetic influence
Genetics play a large role in Coronary Heart Disease.
People who are siblings of persons with CHD are 4 times
higher at risk to develop CHD.(2)
Three recent studies have shown that a large number of genes
are linked to CHD.(5)
Cholesterol is a primary cause of CHD and it is also an
inherited trait passed down from generations.(2)
9. Diagnostic methods
A doctor diagnoses CHD based on using your family history,
risk factors for CHD, physical exams, and various tests.(3)
Tests and procedures done to determine CHD include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Electrocardiogram(EKG)-shows the rate and rhythm of the
heart beating.(2)
Stress tests-done by performing exercise to put stress on the
heart to determine its blood flow and oxygen intake.(3)
Echocardiography-sound waves create a picture of the
heart.(3)
Chest x-rays(3)
Coronary Angiography- a thin catheter is put into blood
vessels to inject a dye to show the blood flow. The dye is
detected by a special x-ray machine.(2)
10. Morbidity
CHD is the most common form of heart disease for people
over the age of 40.(2)
The U.S. population is aging and CHD is becoming a dominant
cause of death.(2)
“In a study of 691 autopsies of persons 20 years of age or
older…, coronary heart disease was the cause of death in 32%
and accounted for 40% of the deaths in males and 20% of
those in females.(2)
11. Treatment
Weight reduction and low calorie diet(2)
Therapeutic lifestyle changes(TLC)- 3 part program: healthy
diet, physical activity, and weight management.(3)
Dietary approaches to stop hypertension(DASH)- includes diet
of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other heart healthy
foods.(3)
Stop smoking(3)
Manage stress(3)
Medicines-hypertension and cholesterol lowing medicines(2)
Surgery and procedures- angioplasty, coronary artery bypass,
cardiac rehab.(3)
12. Range of distribution
Figure 3: Ethnicity Deaths (6)
Figure 4: Gender Deaths (7)
% of deaths
230,000
Whites
220,000
Hispanics
210,000
American…
% of
deaths
Asians
200,000
190,000
African…
0
180,000
20
40
women
men
13. Bibliography
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Shier, D., Butler, J.B., and R. Lewis. (2012). Hole’s Human
Anatomy and Physiology. 13th Edition. McGraw-Hill Inc.
Boston, MA
Friedberg, Charles K. M.D. Diseases of the Heart. Volume 1.
pg. 643-693. W.B. Saunders Company.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cad/
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/intima
http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20110308/newgenetic-links-to-heart-disease
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002914
905020291
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su6001a13.
htm
