Links between diet and Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease is a disease of the arteries that causes damage to, or malfunction of, the heart. It is the biggest killer in Britain and is also the most expensive illness in the country.
When atherosclerosis - the accumulation of fatty material, calcium and plaque (which is like a firm shell with a soft inner core containing cholesterol and as blood hits it, the plaque may crack open and expose its inner cholesterol core, which promotes blood clotting) in artery walls - occurs in the lining of the coronary arteries they become narrow, restricting the flow of blood. Because of this, the heart has to work harder to force blood through the coronary arteries and this can cause blood pressure to rise. It also makes it harder to get oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.