Breakdown of Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also referred to as coronary artery disease, is a an illness affecting millions of people. In fact, it is the leading cause of death worldwide, affecting nearly 400,000 Americans every year. CHD can develop due to various reasons, sometimes starting from early childhood. Research has shown that this disease begins in the coronary arteries, which are blood vessels that supply oxygen to the heart. When these arteries experience a buildup of plaque, a hard substance made up of fat and cellular waste, the vessels can become narrow and make it difficult for blood to supply enough oxygen to cardiac muscles. This arterial growth can be caused by smoking, high fat diets, and heightened blood pressure brought on by stress.

When this plaque gets bigger, it can cut off a lot of the blood flow to the heart, leading a person to experience chest pain. However, if this plaque breaks off, a small hole is left in the wall of the artery where the plaque once was. As a response to this damage, blood platelets are sent out to act like little band aids, patching up the hole left by the plaque. These platelets accumulate around the injured arterial wall. Sometimes, this “band aid” can get so thick to the point where it completely blocks the blood flow through the artery, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

When the body is faced with unhealthy stimuli, it goes into attack mode in order to restore balance and go back to a healthy state. Immunity responses in the body include the release of inflammatory proteins, which help to control unwanted stimuli like high blood pressure and cholesterol. In cases where these stimuli are long-lasting, like they are for diabetes and obesity, this immune response turns into chronic inflammation. This can also create a buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, and therefore lead to heart disease. Health factors related to poor nutrition, namely diabetes and obesity, are common predictors of coronary heart disease.