Coronary Artery Disease, or CAD, is a disease that falls under the umbrella of Cardiovascular diseases or CVDs. In India, not only is the prevalence of CVDs high but there is also a startling predilection for Indians to be susceptible to the disease at a much younger age than our Western counterparts. Research shows that CVDs strike Indians a decade younger than in the West. Numbers also show that our country has the dubious distinction of the highest coronary artery disease rates among our population.

The general factors contributing to coronary artery disease are known to be:

• Hypertension
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Diabetes

However, alarmingly, research has not been able to pinpoint why the rate among our population is higher and why Indians are most affected at a younger age among all ethnic groups. We need to learn about the prevention of coronary artery disease so that we can live without any restrictions.

Primary health education for CAD patients

Before we head into the prevention of coronary artery disease, let’s first see what this disease is and how it affects us. CAD, in medical terms, is also known as Coronary Heart Disease, one of the most common heart ailments. In coronary artery disease, there is damage to the coronary arteries, which are blood vessels carrying blood to the heart. These arteries thicken, and thus the passageway for the blood to pass through is narrowed down. This disrupts the continuous flow of oxygen to the heart and in turn other parts of our body.

The heart pumps harder and strains more to get adequate blood. The excessive strain caused by coronary artery disease can lead to the irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or heart failure.

The most important question here is: Is prevention of coronary artery disease possible?

Yes, since this narrowing down of blood vessels does not occur overnight, we can prevent the disease by taking the right action at the right time. It becomes possible when we identify the problem early through regular health screening tests. Let’s now see the next part of essential health education for CAD patients: prevention.

How to prevent heart disease?

Prevention of coronary artery disease is not very complex, and all of us can incorporate these steps into our daily lives to lead healthier lives. Whether you have already begun to exhibit symptoms that lead to a medical conclusion of coronary artery disease or you wish to be safe owing to a family history of heart ailments, here are 7 critical preventive habits to adopt:

• Healthy diet

Include the foods that protect your heart in your diet. That means fruits, whole grains, fish, nuts, lean protein, and vegetables. Make sure you eat balanced meals at the correct times of the day. There are foods to avoid, too – deep-fried foods, processed meats, red meats, excessive sweets, and full-fat products. These tend to increase the clogging of arteries. Avoid excessive salt too. In general, go for low-fat, high-fiber diets.

• Stay active

A sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of coronary artery disease dramatically. Remember that the heart is a muscle, and exercising it keeps it strong and healthy like any other muscle in your body. A well-exercised heart can function well even under strain, i.e., it can pump blood efficiently at all times without succumbing to exertion quickly. Regular simple aerobic exercises can significantly benefit heart health and help prevent coronary artery disease.

• Quit smoking

Smokers are at greater risk of CAD and other CVDs because the chemicals released in cigarette smoke narrow the arteries. Those diagnosed with CAD are advised to stop smoking immediately. Smoking has many other ill effects, too, affecting nearly every organ, not just the heart.

• Control weight

When you put on too much weight, your heart is under more significant stress to function as it should. Obese people are at high risk of heart disease. Losing weight is a great way to reduce this risk and also helps in the prevention of coronary artery disease. A healthy diet and weight loss are often interlinked, and the latter helps with the former. Add to that regular exercising, and you will not just lose weight quickly but also mount a three-pronged attack on coronary artery disease.

• Manage blood sugar levels

Diabetics are among those with the highest risk of coronary artery disease. When your blood sugar levels are out of control, you have damage to your arteries continuously. Ultimately this leads to coronary artery disease. Managing blood sugar levels can reduce your risk of heart ailments and promote heart health.

• Blood pressure control

Another health aspect of controlling for prevention of coronary artery disease is blood pressure. When your blood pressure is high, the force exerted by the blood against artery walls is higher. Over time, this continuous pressure damages the arteries. Keep track of your blood pressure and take the recommended steps to keep it under control.

• Stay stress-free

One of the most common causes of heart disease, including coronary artery disease, is high-stress levels. Stress can send your blood pressure soaring, and damage to artery walls is inevitable. Effectively tackling stress can help reduce your risk of heart disease as well as make your quality of life better as a whole.

Treatment for coronary artery disease

The lifestyle changes listed above are also part of the treatment strategy for CAD. However, medications are also prescribed, and sometimes procedures may be advised. The medications include:

• Cholesterol-reducing drugs keep bad cholesterol in control and reduce plaque build-up in the arteries, Clot-prevention medicines, however medicine should be taken based on doctor recommendation only.
• Beta-blockers slow the heart rate and keep blood pressure under control.
• ACE inhibitors also keep blood pressure under limits.
• Artery-widening drugs
• Others may be recommended based on the patient’s specific condition.

Invasive treatment methods for coronary artery disease include:

• Angioplasty and stent: When arteries are clogged, a surgical procedure is done to widen the blocked part. A stent is placed in the narrowed-down location to keep it wide open so that blood can usually pass through.
• Bypass graft surgery: The damaged blood vessel leading to the heart is replaced with a new blood vessel taken from elsewhere in the body. An alternative pathway is created for blood to pass through the recent passage avoiding the damaged location.

Heart ailments like coronary artery disease should not be taken lightly because they can have fatal consequences. Indians, in particular, should be extra cautious given the research that says we are more prone to these diseases at a younger age than global populations.

Regular screening as a preventive measure

One of the simplest ways to ensure heart health and track it is by regularly getting the proper screening tests done. At NURA Ai screening cenre, we have a Healthy heart package designed for all above the age of 20 that helps you evaluate how well your heart is functioning. In addition, our whole-body check-ups also feature heart health assessments that allow you to track how well your heart is functioning. Regular screening with these tests enables you to identify heart ailments as they develop so you can address them at a very early stage with minimal effort or simple lifestyle changes.

Now, all it takes for you to screen for this severe illness and keep it at bay is to book your appointment at your nearest NURA Ai Health Screening Centre. Our trained, expert technicians will tell you all you need to know about the tests and how to prepare for them. Backed by Dr. Kutty’s Healthcare expertise and Fujifilm’s technological prowess, we bring you the best in medical testing at NURA. Call us today to book your appointment and take the first step to keep your heart safe and healthy.