CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

It is also known as Ischemic heart disease, Atherosclerotic heart disease and Coronary heart disease. Limitation of blood flow to the heart causes cell starvation by lack of oxygen. It leads to heart muscle damage, death and a stagnant stage of no regrowth.

The arteries that supply blood to the heart muscles have smooth elastic lining inside. In the course of time the artery lining gets hardened, stiffened with all sorts of materials such as calcium phosphate, fatty deposits and abnormal cells giving rise to formation of plaque.

 Illustration depicting atherosclerosis in a coronary artery.

Deposits of calcium phosphates particularly stiffens the lining of the arteries giving rise to formation of plaques. Plaques can be considered as large pimples protruding from artery lining. Plaques may be single or more than one in one or more arteries.

Micrograph of a coronary artery with the most common form of coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis) and marked luminal narrowing. Masson's trichrome.

Prevention: Regular exercise, decreasing overweight, avoiding hyper tension,  healthy diet, reducing cholesterol content in the blood, total avoiding of smoking. The low sugar level does not have direct bearing on the incidence of CAD. But reduced sugar level in blood  will help avoidance of kidney failure and blindness.

 Illustration depicting atherosclerosis in a coronary artery.

Diet: High level of fruit and vegetables in the food reduces the risk of death due to cardio vascular diseases. Aspirin is recommended to men suffering from CAD. It helps to dilute the bold so that smooth flow will be established in arteries.