The Deadliest of Them All! By Almira Lewis

A friend of mine messaged me, saying, that their cousin had coronary heart disease. Now, I’ve heard of this deadly disease, but was not fully versed with its origin, cure or any other important facts about it. As such, I decided to do some research. Here’s what I learnt, which I think is important, seeing that we spoke of blood’s role in the transportation of oxygen.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle and other body parts. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women. However, in the Caribbean research done, by the Pan American Health Organization, in 2014 suggests that more than 30% of our population is obese. What does this mean? It means we consume a lot of fatty foods! Therefore, we are just as susceptible to plaque/ cholesterol build-up overtime. So, it is important that we take note.

When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis. The buildup of plaque occurs over many years.According to medlineplus.gov, CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. This is due, to the buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls.. This can lead to chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. Most heart attacks happen when a blood clot suddenly cuts of the hearts' blood supply, causing permanent heart damage.

In light of this information, our blood contains erythrocytes with hemoglobin, that carry oxygen. When hemoglobin and oxygen combine, oxyhemoglobin results. Therefore, after blood in the heart, obtains oxygen and becomes oxygenated blood (has bright red color) it can’t be carried to the body properly. So, the heart’s muscles and other organs of the body, don’t get their regular oxygen supply. What does this mean? These organs get no energy to work and so, YOU COULD POSSIBLY DIE!

How can you know that you have this disorder though? Here’s a table of available tests, one can do:

Test	What does it do?
ECD or EKG (electrocardiogram)	Measures the electrical activity, rate, and regularity of your heartbeat.
Echocardiogram	Uses ultrasound (special sound wave) to create a picture of the heart.
Exercise stress test	Measures your heart rate while you walk on a treadmill. This helps to determine how well your heart is working when it has to pump more blood.
Chest X-ray	Uses x-rays to create a picture of the heart, lungs, and other organs in the chest.
Cardiac catheterization	Checks the inside of your arteries for blockage by inserting a thin, flexible tube through an artery in the groin, arm, or neck to reach the heart. Health care professionals can measure blood pressure within the heart and the strength of blood flow through the heart’s chambers as well as collect blood samples from the heart or inject dye into the arteries of the heart (coronary arteries).
Coronary angiogram	Monitors blockage and flow of blood through the coronary arteries. Uses X-rays to detect dye injected via cardiac catheterization.

Prior to these tests, let’s look at some symptoms to be sure that you’re safe!

These would include:

1) Constant Chest Pain

2) Shortness of breath

3) A heart attack

However, these symptoms can be prevented, if we take precautionary steps. They always say, precaution is better than cure!

 The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, gives some awesome precautionary tips:

·         Lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthier (lower sodium, lower fat) diet, increasing physical activity, and quitting smoking.

·         Medications to treat the risk factors for CAD, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, and low blood flow.

·         Surgical procedures to help restore blood flow to the heart.

Now, I’m sure you may be asking for possible treatment; especially, if you feel like you or someone else has the disease. You may also just be curious. Well, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute provides this information.

Treatment seems to include: healthy dietary and exercise changes, quitting smoking, managing stress and medical treatment like Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (a type of surgery in which arteries or veins from other areas in your body are used to bypass (that is, go around) your narrowed coronary arteries. CABG can improve blood flow to your heart, relieve chest pain, and possibly prevent a heart attack.) or Cardiac Rehabilitation (your doctor may prescribe cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) for angina or after CABG, angioplasty, or a heart attack. Cardiac rehab is a medically supervised program that may help improve the health and well-being of people who have heart problems.)

However, as I have said before, precaution is better than cure. So, cut down on the KFC, do more than steal wifi and if you smoke or think about, please DON’T!It would also be wise ,to look at your family's history concerning high cholesterol and various heart diseases to prevent them.

Thank you for reading and I wish you a life free from CAD!  🙋🙋🌝🌝🌝🌝🌝

https://youtu.be/puTqZP0ETfQ Ths youtube video, is awesome! Check it out for more information.