Coronary Heart Coronary Heart Disease Disease

Learning Objectives:Learning Objectives: To understand the causes, risk factors and To understand the causes, risk factors and symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease CHD.symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease CHD. To understand how cholesterol causes arteries To understand how cholesterol causes arteries to block.to block. Know how we may reduce our likelihood of Know how we may reduce our likelihood of contracting the disease.contracting the disease.

‘LOW FAT, LOW CHOLESTEROL FOOD AND EXERCISE – THAT’S WHAT WE NEED!!’

HEART

What is Coronary Heart Disease?What is Coronary Heart Disease?CHD is the main cause of death in Northern IrelandCHD is the main cause of death in Northern Ireland

Like any muscle, the heart needs a Like any muscle, the heart needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, which are carried to it by the blood in the which are carried to it by the blood in the coronary arteries. coronary arteries.

Heart disease is caused by narrowing of Heart disease is caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries that feed the heart. the coronary arteries that feed the heart. This causes the heart muscle to be This causes the heart muscle to be partially starved of oxygen.partially starved of oxygen.

AtherosclerosisAtherosclerosis - When the coronary - When the coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged by arteries become narrowed or clogged by

cholesterol and fat deposits. They cannot cholesterol and fat deposits. They cannot supply enough blood to the heart, the result supply enough blood to the heart, the result

is coronary heart disease (CHD). is coronary heart disease (CHD).

Blood Flowing Through An ArteryBlood Flowing Through An Artery

If not enough oxygen-carrying blood reaches If not enough oxygen-carrying blood reaches the heart, chest pain may be experienced the heart, chest pain may be experienced called angina. called angina.

If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a total blockage of a completely cut off by a total blockage of a coronary artery, the result is a heart attack. coronary artery, the result is a heart attack.

This is usually due to a sudden closure of the This is usually due to a sudden closure of the artery, from a blood clot forming on top of a artery, from a blood clot forming on top of a previous narrowing. previous narrowing.

Normal Artery

Healthy Blood Flow

This artery has restricted blood flow due to the build up of fatty deposits. This could lead to a fatal blockage.

Blockage due to fatty deposits and plaque build up.

What is Cholesterol?What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is produced naturally in the liver.that is produced naturally in the liver.The body uses cholesterol to produce The body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat. acids that help to digest fat. Cholesterol may be found Cholesterol may be found in cell walls or in cell walls or other parts of the body, including the brain, other parts of the body, including the brain, nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and nerves, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. heart.

This shows cholesterol and other substances gathering in This shows cholesterol and other substances gathering in the artery causing plaque to form on the artery walls. This the artery causing plaque to form on the artery walls. This will eventually lead to a complete blockage of the artery.will eventually lead to a complete blockage of the artery.

If there is too much cholesterol in the If there is too much cholesterol in the bloodstream, the excess is deposited in bloodstream, the excess is deposited in

the arteries, including the coronary the arteries, including the coronary arteries, where it causes the narrowing arteries, where it causes the narrowing

and blockages that lead to the signs and and blockages that lead to the signs and

symptoms of heart disease.symptoms of heart disease.

Artery

Cholesterol and fatty deposits restricting blood flow.

Healthy Artery

What causes High Cholesterol?What causes High Cholesterol?

Many factors help determine whether your Many factors help determine whether your cholesterol level is high or low. The following cholesterol level is high or low. The following factors are the most important:factors are the most important:HeredityHeredity What you eatWhat you eat WeightWeight Physical activity/exercisePhysical activity/exercise Age and sexAge and sex AlcoholAlcohol StressStress

One of the main contributory factors of high One of the main contributory factors of high

cholesterol in the blood!!cholesterol in the blood!! DietDiet - - Two main nutrients in the foods you eat make Two main nutrients in the foods you eat make cholesterol levels go up: saturated fat, a type of fat cholesterol levels go up: saturated fat, a type of fat found mostly in foods that come from animals; and found mostly in foods that come from animals; and cholesterol, which comes only from animal products.cholesterol, which comes only from animal products.

Saturated fat raises cholesterol levels in the blood Saturated fat raises cholesterol levels in the blood more than anything else in the diet. more than anything else in the diet.

Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol is the Eating too much saturated fat and cholesterol is the main reason for high levels of cholesterol and a high main reason for high levels of cholesterol and a high rate of Coronary Heart Disease in Northern Ireland.rate of Coronary Heart Disease in Northern Ireland.

Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol Reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet is a very important step in reducing blood in the diet is a very important step in reducing blood cholesterol levels.cholesterol levels.

Another major Another major contributory factor is contributory factor is

Stress.Stress.

In today’s society more is expected from In today’s society more is expected from everyone and everyone wants things done everyone and everyone wants things done

fast and efficiently. This puts a large fast and efficiently. This puts a large percentage of the population under stress percentage of the population under stress

and strain. and strain.

Stress over the long term has been shown Stress over the long term has been shown in several studies to raise blood in several studies to raise blood cholesterol levels. cholesterol levels.

Risk factors greatly contribute to our Risk factors greatly contribute to our chances of contracting the diseasechances of contracting the disease

The risk factors that be  controlled include: The risk factors that be  controlled include:

As we increase in age (45 years or older for As we increase in age (45 years or older for men; 55 years or older for women) the risk of men; 55 years or older for women) the risk of CHD Increases.CHD Increases.

Family history of early heart disease (father Family history of early heart disease (father or brother affected before age 55; mother or or brother affected before age 55; mother or sister affected before age 65) – the more sister affected before age 65) – the more likely a son, daughter or sibling are likely to likely a son, daughter or sibling are likely to be affected.be affected.

•

The known risk factors for heart disease that The known risk factors for heart disease that you you cancan  do something about include:  do something about include:

* * High blood cholesterol levelsHigh blood cholesterol levels

* Smoking * Smoking

* * High blood pressure High blood pressure

* * DiabetesDiabetes – Diabetics risk of developing heart disease is – Diabetics risk of developing heart disease is high. As for the general population Diabetics need to lower high. As for the general population Diabetics need to lower their blood cholesterol levels their blood cholesterol levels

* * Obesity/overweight Obesity/overweight

* * Physical inactivity Physical inactivity

What Is a Heart Attack?What Is a Heart Attack?

Heart attack or Heart attack or Myocardial InfarctionMyocardial Infarction is is caused due to coronary artery blockage. caused due to coronary artery blockage.

Coronary arteries are the blood vessels Coronary arteries are the blood vessels which supply the heart with oxygen and which supply the heart with oxygen and nutrition. nutrition.

Over time the inside of these arteries Over time the inside of these arteries develop a fatty plaque substance.develop a fatty plaque substance.

These Plaques are made of cholesterol and These Plaques are made of cholesterol and other substances such as nutrients floating other substances such as nutrients floating through the bloodstream.through the bloodstream.

What is A Heart Attack Cont..What is A Heart Attack Cont..

Many of the plaque deposits are hard on Many of the plaque deposits are hard on the outside and soft on the inside. the outside and soft on the inside. The hard surface can crack or tear The hard surface can crack or tear exposing the soft fatty inside. exposing the soft fatty inside. When this happens blood clots form When this happens blood clots form around the plaque. around the plaque. The artery narrows further and in turn The artery narrows further and in turn there is less room for blood to flow through there is less room for blood to flow through the arteries. the arteries.

What Is A Heart AttackWhat Is A Heart Attack

This eventually results in a complete This eventually results in a complete blockage of the blockage of the the coronary arteries. the coronary arteries. The heart is no longer getting the The heart is no longer getting the oxygen in the blood that it needs to do oxygen in the blood that it needs to do its job – causing a its job – causing a HEART ATTACKHEART ATTACKThe patient experiences tightness, The patient experiences tightness, heaviness in the chest.heaviness in the chest.

The result is the death of the The result is the death of the surrounding heart muscles due to the surrounding heart muscles due to the lack of oxygen.lack of oxygen.

Even if the patient survives the attack, Even if the patient survives the attack, the heart may never recover to the level the heart may never recover to the level it was prior to the attack. it was prior to the attack.

Damage to the heart due to an arterial blockage.

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