| An Introduction to Coronary Heart Disease |
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Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the No. 2 cause of death in Singapore, accounting for about 1 in 5 deaths. |
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In 2005, more than 15,000 hospitalisations were due to CHD. |
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CHD causes more deaths in the United States than the next 7 leading causes of death combined. |
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Even with these alarming statistics, CHD is still very much preventable. |
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Understand the causes and risk factors involved and make simple lifestyle changes to lower your risk for the disease. |
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| What is CHD? |
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CHD is caused by any problem that compromises blood supply to the coronary arteries. These are the arteries, which supply the heart with blood. |
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The most common cause is atherosclerosis, the narrowing of blood vessels when substances such as cholesterol, fats, calcium and fibrin (clotting factors in the blood) build up into plaque and get deposited on the inner lining of the blood vessels. |
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When plaque narrows the coronary arteries, blood flow slows down and the heart muscle does not get the oxygen and other nutrients it needs to function. |
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Deadly heart attacks or irregular heart rhythms can occur if the arteries are completely blocked. |
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| Signs and Symptoms |
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The primary symptom of CHD is angina, a squeezing chest pain, which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach. It is often triggered by physical activity or stressful situations, and is relieved by rest. The pain is a signal that the heart is not receiving sufficient blood and oxygen. |
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Other common symptoms include:
Shortness of breath on exertion
• Palpitations (rapid or very strong heartbeats in your chest)
• Dizziness, light-headedness or fainting
• Weakness on exertion or at rest
• Irregular heartbeat |
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Risk factors
Having a risk factor increases your likelihood for coronary heart disease. Some you can do something about, some you cannot.
Risk factors that cannot be changed include: |
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Age. Heart disease becomes more common with increasing age. |
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Gender. Men are 3 - 5 times more likely to have CHD than women. However, the risk for women increases to the same rate as men 5 to 10 years after menopause. |
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Family history. You are at greater risk if your immediate family members have a history of premature heart disease. |
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| On the other hand, you can control the risk factors below with simple lifestyle changes: |
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High cholesterol. Cholesterol is carried in the blood stream by molecules called lipoproteins. The main ones are 1) low- density lipoproteins (LDL) or "bad cholesterol,” which tends to build up on the walls of the coronary arteries; and 2) high-density lipoproteins (HDL) or "good cholesterol,” which carries cholesterol away from cells for disposal. High levels of LDL and low levels of HDL can increase your risk for CHD. |
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Hypertension (High Blood Pressure). Left untreated, high blood pressure can put a strain on the heart and blood vessels, contributing to the development of CHD. |
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Diabetes. People with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop CHD and stroke. |
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Obesity. Excess weight strains the heart, raises blood pressure, blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers HDL levels. It can also lead to diabetes. |
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Smoking. Smokers account for 40% of deaths caused by heart disease in patients below 65 years old. Carbon monoxide and nicotine put pressure on the heart by making it work harder. They also make you susceptible to blood clots. Other chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the lining of your coronary arteries. |
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Lack of physical activity or exercise. |
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Chronic stress. Constant stress over a prolonged period increases your risk for high blood pressure. |
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