Heart attack has become a common household term in the United States, due to the fact that approximately 16 million American have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. According to American Heart Association, an American dies every minute due to coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease also known coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease encompasses other pathologies, such as angina and myocardial infarction (heart attack). Coronary artery disease occurs when there is a narrowing of the coronary arteries, due to the development of plaques leading to reduce amounts of oxygenated blood to the heart. Cardiovascular And Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiologic Essay
Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart:-
The heart is an essential organ that is responsible for pumping blood all throughout the body and supplying it with oxygen and nutrients. It is the central hub for the cardiovascular system and acts as the transport system of the body, which performs via electrical conduction activity. The anatomy of the heart is composed of many structures, such as the four chambers: the right and left atria and ventricles, numerous blood vessels such as the aorta, the pulmonary artery and vein, and the coronary arteries, four valves, three layers of tissue, etc. The aorta is the main artery that pumps the blood out of the heart to the rest of the body; the pulmonary artery and vein transport oxygenated and deoxygenated blood receptively, and the coronary arteries make a crown on the heart muscle and supply the myocardium with oxygenated blood and nutrients. The valves in the heart are responsible for preventing backflow of blood and allow the blood to circulate in an uniform fashion. The electrical conduction system of the heart accounts for the beating of the heart allowing it contract and act as the pump of the body. Cardiovascular And Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiologic Essay
Pathophysiology of Coronary Artery Disease:-
When the coronary arteries become occluded due to plaque build up a condition called atherosclerosis occurs. Atherosclerosis means narrowing and hardening of the arteries leading to damage to the blood vessels and is a major contributor to many heart diseases and disorders [4]. These atherosclerotic plaques are formed are from lipid and fat deposits, mainly being cholesterol, which is a reason why diet is also major risk factor in developing coronary artery disease. Arteries are composed of three layers: adventita, intima, and media; the plaque tends to develop between the intima and media layers [5]. These atherosclerotic plaques narrow the lumen of the arteries causing decreased amounts of blood to reach the heart and overtime harden them causing decrease flexibility during vasoconstriction and vasodilatation [4]. Additionally, the atherosclerotic plaques can dislodge causing thrombosis and ischemic events [5]. When the coronary arteries’ function is compromised, the heart does not receive adequate supply of oxygenated blood and nutrients causing decrease cardiac function. At times of stress, the body will try to counteract these changes to achieve homeostasis, by working harder than normal; however, prolonged exertion initiates a cascade to many disease processes and pathologies, such as cardiomyopathy, heart failure, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and classically myocardial infarction (heart attack) [4]. Most patients of coronary artery disease experience angina and/or myocardial infarction, or possibly death.Cardiovascular And Cardiopulmonary Pathophysiologic Essay
Risk Factors of Coronary Artery Disease:-
Coronary artery disease tends to be the most common cause of death and disability in the United States. The main risk factors of coronary artery disease are as follows: positive family history, physical inactivity, poor diet, smoking and/or alcohol intake, along with other diseases pathologies like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. A person that has positive family history of heart disease of a first degree relative is at greater risk of developing coronary artery disease [2]. Physical inactivity, poor diet, and obesity go hand in hand for developing coronary heart disease. Obesity has become an epidemic that affects one in four Americans and results in many life-threatening consequences. Heart disease has become the cause of death in industrialized nations compare to underdeveloped nations, due to sedentary lifestyle and increased fast-food consumption. The American Heart Association encourages patients to exercise regularly and eat healthy and this also accounts for better prognosis of coronary artery disease even if someone has other risk factors [2]. Research indicates that a diet that’s rich in omega 3-fatty acids, such as fish helps protect against vascular disease [2]. One of the most preventable risk factors for any disease is smoking, and for cardiovascular disease it is the number one preventable