The heart is the primary muscle the cardiovascular system. Its job is to pump blood throughout the entire body. This blood supply is carried by the coronary arteries, delivering oxygen and nutrients the body needs to function properly. Red blood cells or RBC's carry oxygen while White blood cells or WBC's fight off infections.
In the body of a healthy person, the artery walls are smooth and uniform in thickness. However, as time passes this can change. High levels of cholesterol can circulate causing fatty deposits or plaque to accumulate on the interior walls of the arteries.
As the plaque deposits onto the artery wall, it hardens making the artery narrower and not as flexible as it should be. This is called atherosclerosis. If atherosclerosis develops in the coronary arteries, it becomes a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD).
Due to the hardened plaque, blood flow can be blocked to the heart, resulting in a heart attack. If the blockage to the coronary artery is more than 90%, the risk for experiencing a heart attack is greater. Furthermore, if the coronary artery is completely blocked by plaque, a heart attack is eminent.
Another risk for experiencing a heart attack is the development of a blood clot. This occurs when cracks form in the hardened plaque and blood begins to collect and pile up. The clot can grow to the point of completely blocking blood flow which then results in a heart attack.
The location of the blockage and the amount of time it takes to receive treatment determine how much damage the heart will sustain during an attack. The longer it takes to receive proper medical care, the more damage the heart will endure. The good news is that atherosclerosis can be prevented, thus lowering the risk for enduring a heart attack event.
Lowering your risk factors for this disease as well as slowing its progression can be achieved. Losing excess weight, exercise, quitting smoking and adopting a low fat, low cholesterol diet are excellent starts.
In an ideal world everyone would get complete instructions and education on how to reduce their risk factors for heart disease, but due to shortened hospital stays this is not always possible. Take the time to educate yourself to stay healthy.
In the body of a healthy person, the artery walls are smooth and uniform in thickness. However, as time passes this can change. High levels of cholesterol can circulate causing fatty deposits or plaque to accumulate on the interior walls of the arteries.
As the plaque deposits onto the artery wall, it hardens making the artery narrower and not as flexible as it should be. This is called atherosclerosis. If atherosclerosis develops in the coronary arteries, it becomes a condition called coronary artery disease (CAD).
Due to the hardened plaque, blood flow can be blocked to the heart, resulting in a heart attack. If the blockage to the coronary artery is more than 90%, the risk for experiencing a heart attack is greater. Furthermore, if the coronary artery is completely blocked by plaque, a heart attack is eminent.
Another risk for experiencing a heart attack is the development of a blood clot. This occurs when cracks form in the hardened plaque and blood begins to collect and pile up. The clot can grow to the point of completely blocking blood flow which then results in a heart attack.
The location of the blockage and the amount of time it takes to receive treatment determine how much damage the heart will sustain during an attack. The longer it takes to receive proper medical care, the more damage the heart will endure. The good news is that atherosclerosis can be prevented, thus lowering the risk for enduring a heart attack event.
Lowering your risk factors for this disease as well as slowing its progression can be achieved. Losing excess weight, exercise, quitting smoking and adopting a low fat, low cholesterol diet are excellent starts.
In an ideal world everyone would get complete instructions and education on how to reduce their risk factors for heart disease, but due to shortened hospital stays this is not always possible. Take the time to educate yourself to stay healthy.
About the Author:
Barb Hicks is a licensed registered nurse who loves to share her knowledge about Women Heart Attack. She has an online classroom at Clivir.com where you can find more of her articles about Heart Disease Atherosclerosis Causes.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment