Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

By: Doaa Nassar, Saha Olama, Aidana Orazbay, Siba Al Guma

Objectives:
● What is coronary heart disease
● Coronary arteries
● Causes
● Symptoms
● Diagnosis
● Treatment
● Prevention
● Risk factors
● Extra facts
What is Coronary Heart Disease?

Coronary Heart Disease,

also known as coronary
artery disease, which refers
to the narrowing of the
coronary arteries, the blood
vessels that supply oxygen
and blood to the heart. It is a
major cause of illness and
death.
Coronary Arteries
Coronary arteries are the hearts network of blood
vessels. They exit on the surface of the heart,
and they supply the heart muscle with oxygen. If
the coronary arteries narrow, the supply of
oxygen-rich blood to the heart may become too
low, especially during physical activity.

At first, this reduction in blood flow may not

produce any symptoms, but as fatty deposits, or
plaques, build up in the coronary arteries, signs
and symptoms may emerge.
 CHD is believed to start with injury
or damage to the inner layer of the
coronary artery. This damage causes
fatty plaque deposits to build up at
the site of the injury. These deposits
consist of cholesterol and other

Causes: cellular waste products. The

accumulation is called
atherosclerosis. If pieces break off,
platelets will clump in the area,
attempting to repair the blood vessel.
This clump can block the artery,
blocking blood flow and leading to a
heart attack.
 Symptoms:
● Chest pain (angina): You may feel pressure or tightness in your chest, as if someone were
standing on your chest. This pain, referred to as angina, usually occurs on the middle or
left side of the chest. Angina is generally triggered by physical or emotional stress.
The pain usually goes away within minutes after stopping the stressful activity. In some
people, especially women, this pain may be fleeting or sharp and felt in the neck, arm or back.

● Shortness of breath: If your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs,
you may develop shortness of breath or extreme fatigue with exertion.

● Heart attack: A completely blocked coronary artery will cause a heart attack. The classic
signs and symptoms of a heart attack include crushing pressure in your chest and pain in
your shoulder or arm, sometimes with shortness of breath and sweating.
Women are somewhat more likely than men are to experience less typical signs and
symptoms of a heart attack, such as neck or jaw pain. Sometimes a heart attack occurs
without any apparent signs or symptoms.
Diagnosis
Physical examination, medical history
and a number of tests can help to
diagnose CHD including,
electrocardiogram (ECG), holter
monitor, echocardiogram, stress test,
coronary catheterization, CT scans,
nuclear ventriculography and blood
tests.
Treatment
Treatment for CHD usually involves lifestyle changes and,
if necessary, drugs and certain medical procedures. Making
a commitment to the following lifestyle changes can go a
long way toward promoting healthier arteries:
1.Quit smoking 2.eat healthy foods 3.exercise regularly
4.loss excess weight 5.reduce stress.

Various drugs can also be used to treat CHD like,

cholesterol-modifying medications, aspirin, beta blockers,
calcium channel blockers, ranolazine, nitroglycerin and
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and
angiotensin ll receptor blockers (ARBs). But sometimes
more aggressive treatment is needed.
Angioplasty and
stent placement:
Is when your doctor inserts a long,
thin tube into the narrowed part of
your artery. A wire with a deflated
balloon is passed through the
catheter to the narrowed area. The
balloon is then inflated, compressing
the deposits against your artery
wall.
Coronary artery
bypass surgery:
A surgeon creates a graft to bypass
blocked coronary arteries using a
vessel from another part of your
body. This allows blood to flow
around the blocked or narrowed
coronary artery. Because this
requires open-heart surgery, it's most
often reserved for cases of multiple
narrowed coronary arteries.
Prevention
Leading a healthy lifestyle can help keep your arteries strong and clear of
plaque. To improve your heart health, you can:
● Quit smoking
● Control conditions such as high blood pressure,
high cholesterol and diabetes
● Stay physically active
● Eat a low-fat, low-salt diet that's rich in fruits,
vegetables and whole grains
● Maintain a healthy weight
● Reduce and manage stress
Risk Factors
Risk factors for coronary artery disease include:

● Age.
● Sex. (Men are generally at greater risk of coronary artery disease. However, the risk for women increases after menopause.)
● Family history.
● Smoking.
● High blood pressure.
● High blood cholesterol levels.
● Diabetes.
● Overweight or obesity.
● Physical inactivity.
● High stress.
● Unhealthy diet.
Extra Facts

● Most common type of cardiovascular disease

● CHD was accounted for 23.5 percent of all deaths in the U.S. in 2008.
● According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about
735,000 Americans have a heart attack each year.
● Lifetime risk of developing CHD after age 40 — 49% for men and 32% for
women (Framingham Heart Study)
● Usually multifactorial due to interaction of multiple genetic and environmental
risk factors
 ● https://www.medicalnewstoday
.com/articles/184130.php

References: ● https://www.mayoclinic.org/dis
eases-conditions/coronary-
artery-disease/diagnosis-
treatment/drc-20350619
 The end
Thank you for your attention.