Factors Affecting the Development of Coronary Heart Disease

For the heart to beat and pump blood normally, the heart muscle needs a non-stop supply of oxygen from the blood. If severe coronary artery disease is not treated, not enough blood reaches the heart. This may cause damage to the heart muscle (myocardial infarction or "heart attack").

As the coronary arteries narrow, patients will often experience chest pain or tightness, known as angina. This pain may spread to the left shoulder or arm, or to the neck and jaw. The pain can occur at times of exercise, stress or strain, particularly in cold weather.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death and illness that affects millions of people worldwide. Conditions that increase your risk of developing heart disease are called risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk is of developing heart disease. However, you can reduce your risk of heart disease by modifying your risk factors.

Coronary heart disease occurs when fatty deposits build up on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. This slow, progressive process is called atherosclerosis. The deposits are called plaque, and they are made of fat, cholesterol and other substances. A high level of blood cholesterol makes it more likely that atherosclerosis will develop. Cholesterol occurs naturally in the body and is found in many foods. In Western society, where virtually everyone has some degree of atherosclerosis, this process of plaque development begins in childhood and continues throughout life.

Factors that increase your risk of coronary heart disease are high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, lack of exercise, stress, being overweight and excessive alcohol intake. These are all factors that you can control but there are factors you cannot change such as family history of coronary heart disease, sex and age.

Lowering your cholesterol level is vitally important to prevent continued atherosclerosis. The CHD national service framework suggests a cholesterol target of less than 5.0mmol/l. About 66% of men in Britain and 67% of women have blood cholesterol levels above this.(British heart foundation web site) To reduce blood cholesterol levels you need to eat foods that are low in fat and cholesterol, being especially careful to reduce saturated and hydrogenated fats. Physical activity and drugs can also reduce it.

Cholesterol is a fat like substance produced by your liver. You also get cholesterol from many of the foods you eat. Although it is needed by your body to function properly, too much cholesterol can clog coronary arteries, making it hard for blood to bring in oxygen and nutrients. If and artery becomes blocked, blood flow stops and a heart attack may occur. There are two types of cholesterol: - low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol - the 'bad' cholesterol - high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - the 'good' cholesterol

High levels of LDL cholesterol increase your chance of heart attack and other heart diseases, such as atherosclerosis and angina. HDL cholesterol is 'good' because it helps clear LDL cholesterol out of your arteries.

Lowering blood pressure is also an important to reduce the risk of suffering from coronary heart disease. Losing weight is the most effective lifestyle change to lower blood pressure and can help lower blood cholesterol levels.

Smoking contributes to coronary heart disease, reduces oxygen supply in the blood, worsens cholesterol and increases clotting proteins. Stopping will dramatically decrease the risk of a heart attack.