The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. When they become narrow or blocked (usually by fatty deposits and/or blood clots), the heart muscle can be damaged.
This is coronary heart disease. Two conditions of coronary heart disease are angina pectoris (see Angina) and acute heart attacks. Every day, about 4,000 Americans have heart attacks, one every 20 seconds. And each year, nearly 600,000 people die of coronary artery disease, making it the nation's number 1 killer. Fortunately, heart disease claims fewer and fewer lives each year, thanks to advances in medical treatment of heart disease and growing public awareness of the benefits of exercise and good nutrition. Prevention is of utmost importance.
Prevention
To help avoid coronary heart disease, follow these steps:
Have your blood pressure checked
regularly. To control high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice.
Don't smoke. If you smoke, quit. Nicotine
constricts blood flow and decreases oxygen supply to the heart.
Be aware of the signs and symptoms for
diabetes, which is associated with hardening of the arteries. (See Diabetes.)
Follow your doctor's advice if you have diabetes.
Maintain a normal body weight. People who
are 30% or more above their ideal body weight are more prone to high blood pressure and
diabetes, and therefore coronary heart disease.
Follow a diet low in saturated fats and
cholesterol. (Saturated fats are found in meats, dairy products with fat, hydrogenated
vegetable oils, and some tropical oils, like coconut and palm kernel oils.) High-saturated
fat, high cholesterol diets contribute to the fatty sludge that collects inside artery
walls.
Reduce your intake of salt and foods high
in salt if you are "salt-sensitive." Salt-sensitive persons' blood pressure goes
up if they eat too much salt.
Get some form of aerobic exercise at least
3 times a week for 20 minutes at a time. Sitting around hour after hour, day after day,
week in and week out with no regular physical activity may cause circulation problems
later in life. Start new exercise programs gradually. Report symptoms of chest pain and/or
shortness of breath to your doctor.
Practice relaxation techniques. These can
reduce the harmful effects of stress and improve your outlook on daily events. Stress has
been linked to elevated blood pressure, among other health problems.
Get regular medical checkups.
Take medication to lower your cholesterol
and/or triglycerides (another blood fat) if prescribed by your doctor.
Know the signs of a heart attack. Get
immediate medical attention if you have any of the following:
Chest pressure or pain. The pain may spread to the arm, neck, or jaw.
Feelings of tightness, burning, squeezing, fullness, or heaviness in the chest that lasts
more than a few
minutes, or go away and come back
Chest
discomfort with:
-
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
-
Sweating; pale, gray colored or clammy skin; dizziness, nausea and/or vomiting
-
Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
-
Lightheadedness, fainting, or sense of doom
Treatment and Care
If you think you're having a heart attack, get to a hospital as soon as
possible. If given within 4 hours, an injection that dissolves clots can reduce the risk
of death and severity of damage to the heart muscle. Other emergency procedures can also
prevent damage to the heart muscle.
The type of care after a heart attack will depend on the amount of damage done to the
heart muscle. Specific medical tests and procedures can assess the damage. Your
doctor will decide the course of treatment. This could include 1 or more of the following:
Medication (cardiac, blood pressure,
cholesterol-lowering medicines, etc.)
Hospitalization for treatment and recovery
from the heart attack
Cardiac rehabilitation for lifestyle
changes. These include:
Smoking cessation
Weight loss
Low-fat, cholesterol-controlling diet
Behavior modification, stress management, and relaxation techniques
Surgery if indicated: angioplasty, coronary
artery bypass grafts, etc.
Long-term maintenance and medical follow-up
(See "Places to Get Information & Help" under Heart Disease/High Blood Pressure.)
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 04/21/99