Coronary artery disease (CHD), also called coronary heart disease, is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women.
The heart is a strong muscular pump that is responsible for moving about 3,000 gallons of blood through the body every day. Like other muscles, the heart requires a continuous supply of blood to function properly. The heart muscle gets the blood it needs to do its job from the coronary arteries. CAD is caused by a thickening of the inside walls of the coronary arteries. This thickening is called atherosclerosis. A fatty substance called plaque builds up inside the thickened walls of the arteries, blocking or slowing the flow of blood. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows the arteries, reducing blood flow to your heart muscle. If the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood to work properly, the person may have angina or a heart attack.
Atherosclerosis is a process that can involve many of the body’s blood vessels with a variety of presentations. When it involves the coronary arteries it results in coronary artery disease, the cerebral arteries; cerebrovascular disease (transient ischemic attack, stroke), the aorta; aortic aneurysms, the ileo-femoral and popliteal arteries; peripheral vascular disease, the mesenteric arteries; intestinal ischemia. Half of all deaths in the developed world and a quarter of deaths in the developing world are due to Cardiovascular Disease which are comprised of hypertension and the diseases caused by atherosclerosis.
Over time, CHD can weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure and arrhythmias. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood throughout the body. Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat.
Causes
Research suggests that CHD starts when certain factors damage the inner layers of the coronary arteries. These factors include smoking, high amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood, high blood pressure, and high amounts of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes.
When damage occurs, the body starts a healing process. This process causes plaque to build up where the arteries are damaged. The buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries may start in childhood. Certain traits, conditions, or habits raise your risk for CHD. These conditions are known as risk factors.
The major risk factors for CHD include:
- Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Insulin resistance
- Diabetes
- Overweight or obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
- Lack of physical activity
- Age (as you get older, your risk for CHD increases)
- Family history of early heart disease Lifestyle changes, medicines, and/or medical procedures can prevent or treat CHD in most people.
African Americans have more severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and therefore have a higher risk of heart disease. Heart disease risk is also higher among Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans. This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes in these populations.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of coronary artery disease is angina (also called angina pectoris). Angina is often referred to as chest pain. It is also described as chest discomfort, heaviness, tightness, pressure, aching, burning, numbness, fullness, or squeezing. It can be mistaken for indigestion or heartburn. Angina is usually felt in the chest, but may also be felt in the left shoulder, arms, neck, back or jaw.
Other symptoms that may occur with Coronary Artery disease include –
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations (irregular heartbeats, skipped
- beats or a “flip-flop” feeling in your chest)
- A faster heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Extreme weakness
- Sweating
Treatment
Medications – Most people who have CAD take medicine to help control their condition. Medicines called beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and nitrates can help relieve angina. Taking low-dose aspirin every day can reduce the chance of a second heart attack in people who have already had one. All medicines may have side effects. Aspirin may cause upset stomach. Nitrates may cause a flush (redness in the face) and headaches. Beta-blockers cause tiredness and sexual problems in some patients. Calcium channel blockers may cause constipation and leg swelling.
Surgeries – Angioplasty is a surgical treatment for CAD. Angioplasty uses a tiny balloon to push open blocked arteries around the heart. The balloon is inserted in an artery in the arm or leg. A small metal rod called a stent might be put into the artery where the blockage was to hold the artery open.
Another surgical treatment for CAD is bypass surgery. Pieces of veins or arteries are taken from the legs and sewn into the arteries of the heart to bring blood past a blockage and increase the blood flow to the heart. Bypass surgery is usually done when angioplasty isn’t possible.
Surgery, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery, also has potential risks. The major risks can include heart attack, stroke or even death. These are rare and most patients do well. After angioplasty, you can usually expect to return to your previous activity level, or even a better activity level, within a few days. It takes longer (a few weeks or months) to recover from bypass surgery.
Alternative Treatment
Chelation Therapy – Chelation therapy is a medical treatment commonly used to rid the body of heavy metals, like treating lead or mercury poisoning. Its use in treating heart disease is controversial and questionable. During chelation treatments, an amino acid called EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) is injected. It binds to heavy metals and minerals and leaves through the urine.
Niacin – This B vitamin works in the liver to reduce the fatty acids that form cholesterol. Niacin can help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride levels while boosting HDL. Potential side effects include nausea, intense flushing, and liver problems. Niacin should only be taken under a doctor’s supervision since special blood tests are necessary to monitor for liver damage.
Red yeast rice – Researchers have found that this Chinese supplement can lower LDL and triglycerides. Red yeast rice contains monacolin K, which is a statin — a chemical compound that lowers cholesterol. In fact, monacolin K is the principal ingredient in the prescription cholesterol drug lovastatin (Mevacor).
R-Lipoic Acid – R-lipoic acid improves endothelial function by, and the antioxidant also enhanced the benefits of a drug used to treat heart disease.
Curcumin – Curcumin is world-renowned for reducing inflammation and pain. Curcumin is the active ingredient in Turmeric.
Multivitamin – Vitamins help to prevent unnecessary blood clots that can block arteries. It is also necessary to control the amino acid homocysteine which appears to damage artery linings and encourage heart disease. itamin B12 deficiency has been associated with elevated levels of the dangerous homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine, an amino acid produced by the body, can damage the inner surface of arteries. This can be treated and/or prevented with vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folic acid. Many cardiologists are now using B-vitamins to help prevent coronary artery diseaseFolic Acid – Folic acid helps to control homocysteine, an amino acid that seems to play a major role in clogging the arteries.
Calcium – Calcium is believed to help keep cholesterol under control and may prevent dangerous blood clots. Too much calcium may increase the risk of heart disease, especially if there is much too much calcium in relation to magnesium.
Magnesium – Magnesium deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of CAD, heart attacks and improper heartbeats (ventricular tachyarrhythmias).
Phytosterols – These are found in unrefined vegetable oils, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. Eating foods enriched with at least 0.8 grams of plant sterols or stanols daily can reduce your LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Omega-3 fatty acids, derived from fatty fish, are thought to reduce inflammation in your body. Inflammation is a contributing factor in heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids may also decrease triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and boost immunity.
Flax and flaxseed oil also contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, though studies have not found these sources to be as effective as fish. The shell on raw flaxseeds also contains soluble fiber, which can help lower blood cholesterol.
Selenium – The amount of selenium in the blood and red blood cells may be related to the risk of CHD and heart attacks. Lower the level of selenium, the more the risk. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps to prevent the conversion of LDL into its more artery-damaging, oxidized form. It may also help to “thin” the blood,” minimizing the blood clots and the heart attack.
Co-enzymes – Adequate levels of CoQ10 is necessary for a well functioning system. When the levels of CoQ10 drops below optimum levels, the disease takes over or already had done so. Heart muscle biopsies in patients with various cardiac diseases showed a CoQ10 deficiency in 50-75 percent of the cases. On the corollary, all the well functioning hearts had an adequate amount of CoQ10 in the tissue. When supplemental CoQ10 was introduced into the ailing hearts, they started getting signs of new life. CoQ10 increases oxygenation of heart tissue.
Reference –
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/heart/chd_atglance.pdf
https://www.icsi.org/_asset/t6bh6a/SCAD.pdf
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/ccf/media/files/heart/coronary_artery_disease_treatment_guide.pdf
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronary-artery-disease/basics/definition/con-20032038
http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2001/0300/p37.html
http://www4.dr-rath-foundation.org/NHC/cardiovascular_disease/cellular_solutions.htm