CORONARY DISEASE: UNDERSTANDING RISK FACTORS

WHAT IS CORONARY HEART DISEASE?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. This is due to the build- up of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on their inner walls. This build up is called atherosclerosis. As it grows, less blood can flow through the arteries. As a result, the heart muscle can't get the blood or oxygen it needs. This can lead to chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. Most heart attacks happen when a blood clot suddenly cuts off the hearts' blood supply, causing permanent heart damage.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF CAD?

There are many known CAD risk factors. You can control some risk factors, but not others. Risk factors you can control include:

• High blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels (a type of fat found in the blood)
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes and prediabetes
• Overweight and obesity
• Smoking
• Lack of physical activity
• Unhealthy diet
• Stress

The risk factors you can't control are age, gender, and family history of CHD.

Many people have at least one CHD risk factor. Your risk of CHD and heart attack increases with the number of risk factors you have and their severity. Also, some risk factors put you at greater risk of CHD and heart attack than others. Examples of these risk factors include smoking and diabetes. Many risk factors for coronary heart disease start during childhood. This is even more common now because many children are overweight and don’t get enough physical activity.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT CAD?

Following a healthy lifestyle can help you prevent or control many CHD risk factors.

Because many lifestyle habits begin during childhood, parents and families should encourage their children to make heart healthy choices. If you already have CHD, lifestyle changes can help you control your risk factors. This may prevent CHD from worsening. Even if you're in your seventies or eighties, a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of dying from CHD.

If lifestyle changes aren't enough, your doctor may recommend other treatments to help control your risk factors.

WHY KIMS?

KIMS, one of the Top Heart Hospital in Hyderabad, has a long history of pioneering coronary artery disease treatment. Today, KIMS is the most advanced facility of its kind in the region, providing comprehensive and compassionate care to patients requiring coronary disease treatment, Heart attack treatment, chest pain as well as peripheral artery disease treatment. Each patient at the KIMS is treated by one of the best-known Heart Surgeon in Hyderabad, Telangana - Dr. B. Bhaskar Rao). Assisting Dr. Rao is a team of surgeons, anaesthesiologists, radiologists, and cardiovascular nurses as well as other healthcare professionals who collaborate closely to offer patients the most advanced level of care including emergency care.