Coronary Artery DIsease
By: Bryce A
What is it?
Coronary artery is an artery in the heart that allows blood without oxygen to get to the lungs to get the oxygen it needs. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is when plaque builds up in the coronary artery which prevents enough blood to get to the heart. This can become very dangerous.
When can you get it?
- Coronary artery disease starts when you are a teenager.
- That is when the first signs of fat show up
- Over time, more and more plaque and fat builds up.
Facts
- CAD is caused when plaque builds up in the coronary artery.
- The plaque becomes rigid and allows smaller space to get to the heart.
- This makes a smaller space for the blood to get to the heart.
- The fat is also sticky and the key nutrients get stuck to the fat
- The heart becomes in need of blood and nutrients and starts to shut down.
- 7 million Americans suffer from CAD
Health Effects
- CAD can result in heart attacks
- Blood clots- When there is not enough room for the blood to pass through and it starts to build up. The blood can't get to the organs or parts of the body that need the blood.
Ways to avoid it/ Treat it
- Eat healthy- If you eat less fat, less plaque or fat will build up in the coronary artery
- Get your cholesterol checked- Make sure your not consuming too much fatty food which will block the arteries.
- Blood pressure checked- If your blood pressure is too high, it puts to much pressure on the walls of the artery's.
- Try to keep salt out of your diet- Salt increases your blood pressure.
- Take medications- Can help get rid of some of the plaque
- Get surgery- If its really bad only, can remove most if not all of the plaque.
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Info Citations
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-disease-coronary-artery-disease,Web. 11 June 2015 , http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/multimedia/circulatory-system/vid-20084745 , http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm Web. 11 June 2015 , http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-disease-coronary-artery-disease#2 "Coronary Artery Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 11 June 2015
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/health/_layouts/15/healthwise/media/medical/hw/h9991292_001.jpg Web. 11 June 2015.