Coronary Artery Disease

The coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with blood flow
to carry the needed oxygen and nutrients to the heart tissue.
There are a total of three coronary artery branches.
Due mainly to a poor diet and inactive lifestyle, one
or more of these arteries can become blocked due
to plaque build-up. Diets high in fat and cholesterol
have been linked to this type of condition.

Some symptoms of this condition include dizziness,

shortness of breath and rapid heart rate.
To diagnose this type of condition, a specialist will
use a process known as cardiac catheterization.
The catheter can be best described as a tube that is fed through
a main artery branch beginning in your groin area, all the way up
to the heart. Once inside the heart, dye is injected into the
coronary arteries so that they can be projected onto a screen for
observation.
Depending on the severity of the blockage, the physician
may decide to use a procedure known as Angioplasty to
treat the blockage.
This procedure is the same as catheterization as far as the route
used to reach the clogged artery. However, now there is a
surgical balloon at the end of the wire. This balloon is fed right
into the center of the blockage and then inflated. The inflated
balloon pushes the plaque against the wall of the artery, clearing
a path for blood flow

The balloon is then deflated and the instrument is removed from

the patient.
If the blockage is severe (usually 90% or more), a surgical stent is
required.
During this procedure a stainless-steel screen is inserted over top
of the surgical balloon. When the balloon is inflated it pushes the
mechanism is opened up and stays permanently against the wall
of the artery.

Blocked Artery

Catheter with balloon and stent is inserted

Balloon is inflated opening up the stent

Catheter and balloon are removed,

leaving the stent in place
In extreme cases such as a 100% blockage, a bypass surgery may
have to be performed.
During a bypass surgery procedure, a piece of an artery (usually
from the patient’s leg) is removed. This is referred to as a graft.
This piece of artery will then be used to create an alternative
route for blood flow around the clogged artery.
 Risk Factors
Tobacco smoke — Smokers' risk of developing coronary heart
disease is 2–4 times that of nonsmokers.
High blood cholesterol — As blood cholesterol rises, so
does risk of coronary heart disease.
High blood pressure- Uncontrolled high blood pressure can
result in hardening and thickening of your
arteries,
Obesity- Excess weight typically worsens other risk factors.

Physical inactivity- Lack of exercise also is associated with

coronary artery disease.
Diet- Diets high in animal fat have been linked to heart disease as well.

Age- Coupled with one or more of these other risk factors

According to the FDA, a consistent diet that contains more that 15% from
fat is considered to be a high-risk diet for long-term coronary artery
disease.
Which of the meals below would fall into safe-harbor?

Meal 1 Meal 2 Meal 3

120g of carbs 70g of carbs 110 g of carbs
15g of carbs 25g of protein 40 g of protein
10g of fat 9 g of fat 15 g of fat

**********

120 grams of carbs x 4 = 480 calories

15 grams of protein x 4 = 60 calories
10 grams of fat x 9 = 90 calories
Total calories = 630 calories 90 / 630 = 14.2 %