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Coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease) is the number one killer in the United States. It is a chronic condition and, sadly, is often not diagnosed until it is too late.

>>What is Coronary Heart Disease<<

It is the damage that occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that lead to the heart. This buildup is called atherosclerosis and it can make the arteries too narrow to bring enough blood to the heart.

Without good blood flow, the heart cannot work right and effectively starves.

>>Symptoms<<

The most common coronary heart disease symptom is angina, a tightness or squeezing sensation in the chest. Other symptoms include:

*Sudden sweating
*Nausea
*Shortness of breath
*Irregular heartbeats

>>Causes of Coronary Heart Disease<<

The primary cause is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis is caused by damage to the artery walls. The causes of this damage are also indirect causes of coronary heart disease. These include:

*Smoking
*High blood pressure
*High cholesterol
*Diabetes

>>Diagnosis<<

Your doctor has various ways to look for heart disease.

-Measure Heart Activity-

*Electrocardiogram (ECG): records the electrical signals in the heart. You may be asked to exercise (usually on a treadmill) during the recording. This is a stress test.

*Echocardiogram: creates images of the moving heart, allowing the doctor to see if it's working right. A stress test may also be done using this technique.

-View Arteries Directly-

*Angiogram: A special dye shows up on X-rays to reveal areas where the vessels are narrowed.

*Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): Magnetic waves create a 3-D image of the arteries, which also reveals narrowed areas.

*Electron beam computerized tomography (EBCT): A new test that shows calcium deposits in the fatty plaques. The more calcium, the higher the likelihood of heart disease. The usefulness of this test is still being debated.

>>Treatment<<

Treatment for coronary heart disease involves treating the underlying atherosclerosis.

If the disease is still mild, lifestyle and diet changes may be enough to prevent or slow progression. This includes:

*Follow a healthy diet: The optimal diets for prevention of coronary heart disease include lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Also, follow a low sodium, low-fat diet.
*Exercise.
*Stay at a healthy weight: A healthy diet and exercise will help with this.
*Don't smoke.
*Control blood pressure and cholesterol. Lifestyle changes may accomplish this, or you may need medication.

If your disease is advanced enough to cause symptoms, you'll also need other treatments.

Your doctor may prescribe anti-coagulant (aspirin, warfarin or heparin) and/or anti-platelet (Plavix) medications to keep blood flowing and prevent heart attack.

Angioplasty is a common procedure where the doctor threads a long, thin tube into your artery to the narrowed part. A balloon on the end inflates and mashes the plaque against the artery wall. Sometimes, a stent (a mesh tube) is left behind to keep the artery open.

Bypass surgery is usually a last resort, when blockage is nearly complete or involves multiple arteries. A blood vessel (usually a vein) is taken from another part of your body and sewn onto the blocked artery to create a "bypass" for the blood to flow around the blockage.

Coronary heart disease is a lifelong condition. Educate yourself (the American Heart Association is a wonderful resource) and work with your doctor to create a wellness plan that works for you.

Learn more about this author, Melissa J Luther.
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