Coronary Artery Disease

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Coronary Artery Disease Coronary Artery Disease Abstract In America about 600,000 people die of heart disease each year in the United States. That’s one in every four deaths. Every year about 720,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 515,000 are a first heart attack and 205,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack. Coronary Artery Disease Coronary Artery Disease is also known by other names such as, Atherosclerosis, hardening of the ateries, heart disease, Ischemic heart disease and narrowing of the arteries. Coronary Artery Disease is where one or more of the arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle become blocked. It is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle. Atherosclerosis is a multi focal, smoldering immunoinflammatory disease of medium sized and large arteries filled by lipids. (Curtis M. Rimmerman, 2008) When plaque builds up the condition is called Atherosclerosis, the build up of plaque over many years.If the flow of oxygen rich blood to your heart muscle is reduced or blocked, Angina or a heart attack can occur. Angina is chest pain or discomfort. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. Pain can also occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back. It may even feel like indigestion. It may also cause shortness of breath, nausea, breaking out in cold sweat, dizziness or lightheadedness. Coronary Artery Disease is a chronic process that begins during adolescence and slowly progresses throughout life. Independent risk factors include a family history of premature Coronary Artery Disease, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sedentary lifestyle, high levels of certain fats in the blood, poor diet and excessive alcohol use. About one half of Americans have

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