{"id":19353,"date":"2020-01-07T15:44:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-07T15:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/?post_type=diabeteshealth&p=19353"},"modified":"2026-04-05T07:51:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T07:51:17","slug":"coronary-artery-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/diabetes-health\/coronary-artery-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronary Artery Disease: Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the United States alone, heart disease accounted for almost 650,000 deaths in 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened and narrowed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls.  In this article, we will explore the details of what it is, why it occurs, and what you can do to decrease your risk of developing it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is Coronary Artery Disease? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The heart is the primary pump of the body working to supply blood throughout your system. For the heart itself to stay functioning properly, it contains large blood vessels known as coronary arteries that supply it with nutrients and oxygen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These coronary arteries can become damaged when plaque is allowed to build up inside the vessels. When the plaque build-up is significant enough to cause a reduction in blood flow, the damage becomes known as coronary artery disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaque is mostly cellular debris composed of fats, cholesterol (especially from low-density lipoprotein or LDL), minerals, dead cells, and other substances. Plaque build-up can take decades to develop in a process known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis<\/a> is the progressive accumulation of plaque. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaque also is thought to lead to inflammation, which draws inflammatory materials that further contribute to plaque build-up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that significant amounts of inflammation can be tested using a c-reactive protein test. The plaque filled artery narrows and hardened in response, which leads to high blood pressure<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this process causes issues, it is also known as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the heart is unable to get enough oxygen due to these blockages, the heart muscle itself can begin to die, causing symptoms such as severe chest pain and shortness of breath. At this point, a heart attack is occurring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of heart attacks, coronary artery disease can also lead to dangerous alterations in heart rhythms and heart failure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To prevent this from occurring, doctors may decide to place a stent during a percutaneous coronary intervention procedure to open up the plaque filled blood vessels or prescribe medications such as alpha-blockers<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, preventing plaque build-up from occurring in the first place is the best treatment strategy. Read on to discover the risk factors of CAD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Risk Factors for CAD <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is impossible to know for sure if coronary artery disease is in your future. Still, medical professionals can make educated guesses based on a variety of risk factors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Risk factors generally involve either genetics, lifestyle, or pre-existing conditions and are outlined below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n