Heart Health
Heart Health
Coronary Heart Disease
Heart and Brain Vessel Health
Blood Pressure
Overview
Coronary Heart Disease develops when the major blood vessels become damaged or diseased. Plaque (deposits made of fats, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood) and inflammation are usually the cause. Plaque builds up in the arteries and decreases blood flow to your heart. Over time, the decreased blood flow may cause symptoms of coronary heart disease such as chest pain and shortness of breath. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack. Since plaque buildup happens over time, you may not show any symptoms, until there is a significant blockage. However, it is possible to prevent and treat this disease, beginning with early detection of the disease and making changes for a healthier lifestyle
Risk Factors
- Older age puts you at greater risk of Coronary Heart Disease
- Gender factors into your likelihood of developing Coronary Heart Disease, with men being at greater risk, while the risk for women increases after menopause
- A family history of heart disease , especially if your father or brother was diagnosed with heart disease before 55 yrs or your mother or a sister developed it before age 65
- Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke increases your risk of Coronary Heart Disease
- High blood pressure increases your risk of Coronary Heart Disease
- High blood cholesterol levels increases your risk of Coronary Heart Disease
- Type 2 Diabetes increases your risk of Coronary Heart Disease
- Obesity due to unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle increases risk not only for Coronary Heart Disease but multiple other diseases
- High stress levels are also a factor in putting you at risk of developing Coronary Heart Disease
- An unhealthy diet that has high amounts of saturated fat, trans fat, salt and sugar put you at higher risk.
Screening for Coronary Heart Disease
A specialized CT scan of the heart helps the doctor to detect and measure calcium-score in the coronary arteries of your heart, even if you are asymptomatic. Based on the calcium score, the doctor will advise you if you need medication or lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of heart problems in the future.
