Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
The heart is the human’s central blood pump, a motor which through arteries, veins and capillaries supplies blood to every part of the body, including the heart itself for correct functioning. Failure to deliver blood to different limbs and organs (excluding the brain) at any particular time can result in pain, numbness or loss of function for some time. However, failure to deliver blood to the heart itself, compromises its correct functioning and could result in a myocardial infarction (heart attack), which, if not intervened within an hour of the onset of symptoms, results in immediate death in more than 50% of the cases[1].
Cardiovascular disease, specifically coronary artery disease (CAD) (also known as coronary heart disease) is the number one killer in the US, shadowing all other causes, including cancer, unintentional injuries, lung disease and AIDS [2]. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply the heart with its own share of blood which keeps the heart pumping. CAD occurs when the heart’s blood suppliers, i.e. coronary arteries, are constricted due to plaque accumulation (Figure 1B) and hence result in an inadequate blood supply, which prevents the heart from pumping effectively or in the worst case scenario, a heart attack.
There are two main coronary arteries which supply the heart: right and left coronary artery (Figure 1A). The left coronary artery divides into two branches, the circumflex and the left anterior
Cardiovascular disease is a substantial concern and has emerged as one of the leading health issues. In examining cardiovascular disease, its incidence is astounding. Each year approximately one million men and women die, averaging one death every thirty three seconds (Heart, 2013).The death rate for cardiovascular issues such as myocardial infarction and CHF claim more lives than cancer and Aids combined. Heart disease will be the number one cause of death by the
arteries feed the front and the left side of the heart. The division of the left
Coronary Artery Disease, also known as CAD, is the most common form of heart disease. (Heart and Stroke Foundation, 2009) Coronary Artery Disease obstructs the blood flow in vessels that provides blood to the heart which is caused by the buildup of plaque on the artery walls. (Rogers, 2011, p.87) (Heart and Stroke Foundation, 2009) Plaque is a yellow substance that consists of fat substances, like cholesterol, and narrows or clogs the arteries which prevents blood flow. (Heart and Stroke Foundation, 2009) Plaque can build up in any artery but usually favors large and medium sized arteries. (Heart and Stroke Foundation, 2009)
These two left arteries feed the front and left side of the heart. The division of the left coronary artery is the reason why doctors usually refer to three main coronary arteries.
The two main coronary arteries that supply blood to the hart are the left main coronary artery and the right coronary artery.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as coronary heart disease, is the leading cause of mortality in both men and women in the United States today. It has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that CAD accounted for nearly 616,000 deaths in 2011 and was responsible for 1 in 4 deaths in the U.S. in the same year. 1 Coronary artery disease is a progressive disease where the major arterial vessels supplying the heart become occluded and sclerotic due to the buildup of plaque in the inner walls of the artery through a process called atherosclerosis. 2 CAD eventually leads to heart failure and a myocardial infarction (MI).
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by reduced blood flow in the coronary arteries. This subsequently leads to reduced oxygenation to the myocardium, resulting in transient ischemia or angina. CAD may cause permanent damage to myocardial cells or infarction. The left ventricle of the heart is most susceptible to CAD.
Cardiovascular diseases has affected large number of population worldwide and in developed countries it is responsible for half of all deaths, coronary artery disease (CAD) alone is responsible for 1 of every 4.7 deaths in the United States (Eichner et al., 2002).
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is caused by fatty buildup in the arteries of the heart. Your arteries are made to carry oxygen infused blood to your heart and other parts of your body if it is filled up with plaque, which is the fatty substance that clogs and blocks up the arteries. If it gets clogged enough to where your heart is not receiving fresh oxygen, you could have a heart attack that could cause very serious damage to your body and could even kill you. When you are younger, you can begin to grow plaque in your blood vessels from not eating right and not exercising regularly. When your arteries are being filled up with plaque they become more narrow and harder for blood to get through as easily as it is supposed to be. When you have
Coronary artery disease is caused by a condition called atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of plaque in arteries (Tamparo & Lewis, 2011, p. 323). As plaque builds up in the coronary artery, the blood vessel becomes hardened and narrower. Consequently, the accumulated plaque causes a blood clot and it triggers a serious complication such as myocardial infarction. First, one of the most significant risk factors that contribute to coronary artery disease is heredity (Tamparo & Lewis, 2011, p. 323). If one has a family member who developed heart disease at an early age, he has a
According to Heart foundation (2015) , coronary heart disease is a major cause of death in Australia, which kills about one Australian every 12 minutes. It is known that the development of atherosclerosis is the vital cause of coronary heart disease. It induces the accumulation of connective tissue rudiments, lipids, cells and other elements in the coronary artery wall (Hansson, 2005). This results in the asymmetric thickenings of the innermost layer, intima, which prevents adequate blood flow through arteries to supply to the organs and tissues. The plaques origin early in life and can progressively enlarge, harden and cause significant blockage(Hansson, 2005, Mathur, 2010). Else, the plaque can rupture and create blood clots,
This paper will discuss to you the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease and the effects it has on the body. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease there is, and it causes much suffering and pain in those who acquire the disease. In this essay, I will discuss with you the disease process, risk factors, signs and symptoms, complications and the collaborative care provided. I will also compare my patient’s clinical manifestations to the pathophysiology of Coronary artery disease
The left one supplies blood to the left ventricle and atrium and the right supplies blood to the right atrium and ventricle. These vessels supply the heart with the oxygen and nutrients that are required to function and survive (Sanders, Lewis, Quick, & McKenna, 2007, p. 123-124). In the case of an individual with CAD, the most common cause is atherosclerosis. It is a chronic inflammatory reaction in the artery walls with deposits of fatty proteins/lipids and cholesterol (Drake, Vogl, & Mitchell, 2015, p. 27).
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is disease of the heart and blood vessels. There are many forms of disease that are classified as CVD, with atherosclerosis underpinning many of the disease an individual may experience. This is due to the increase in plaque lining the vessels, causing arterial stiffness. This is primarily due to the modifiable risk factors describe further on in this essay. According to WHO (2014) 17.5million people die annually from CVD; it is a top ten leading cause of death in both low income and high income areas. Furthermore, it costs £6.8 billion to the UK annually, with £1.8 billion of costings contributed from the NHS; this figure is rising each year (British Heart Foundation, 2014). The most common type of CVD to cause death is ischemic heart disease (46%), usually associated with heart attacks and angina, as the disease causes narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. Second to this, cerebrovascular disease (34%); impedance of blood supply to the brain, causing health issues such as, stroke and transient ischemic attacks. Thirdly, hypertensive heart disease contributes to 6% of deaths yearly; it is caused by high blood pressure, aneurysms and peripheral arterial disease (World Heart Federation, 2016).
Heart disease is known widely all over the world. It’s the number one death issue in the United States and also in the state of Oklahoma. Even though America is counted as one of the developed countries in the world, however, it still has an issue of finding a cure to stop these deadly diseases. In Oklahoma, the number one death issue is heart disease and strokes (Heart Disease and Strokes). “It is Oklahoma’s leading killer for both men and women, resulting in more than 9,000 deaths in 2012” (Understanding Heart Disease). Some of these heart diseases are Coronary artery disease, which is narrowing of the arteries, heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias, heart failure, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease (Different