Definition and Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease

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Definition and Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease Deanne Wagner HS200, Section #4 Unit 2 Capstone Project: Coronary Artery Disease Kaplan University March 14, 2013 Hello Eric today we are going to discuss your test results and talk to you about your diagnosis. After all of the test we have run to find out what is going on with your health, we come to the conclusion that you have coronary artery disease. I will explain to you what exactly is coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is a narrowing or blockage of the arteries and vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the heart. This is caused by atherosclerosis, which is an accumulation of fatty materials on the inner linings of arteries. Resulting in a blockage, that restricts the blood flow to the heart. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow is completely cut off from the heart. Therefore it is important to keep yourself healthy so you will not have a heart attack. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. When the coronary arteries become partially blocked or clogged the result becomes coronary artery disease. Therefore this blockage limits the flow of blood from the coronary arteries, which are the major arteries supplying oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When the heart is working harder and needs more oxygen the coronary arteries expand. Here are a few examples of when the arteries expand, when a person is climbing stairs, exercising, or having sex. The heart is deprived of oxygen when the arteries are unable to expand. Healthy coronary arteries are clean, smooth, and slick. When the heart needs to work harder the artery walls are flexible and can expand to let more blood flow through. Having unhealthy coronary arteries makes it harder to perform everyday tasks and to perform your job the way you need to. People think disease

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