How does heart disease develop?
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Boston Women's Health Book Collective answered:The heart is a muscle; its job is to pump blood to the brain, kidneys, and the rest of the body. The coronary arteries deliver the needed oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. If a coronary artery becomes partially or completely blocked, the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen. These blockages usually develop over time as deposits of fat, cholesterol, and inflammatory cells (like those involved in fighting infection) build up in the artery wall. The deposits are called plaques, and the process of plaque buildup is known as atherosclerosis.
Occasionally a plaque may rupture, triggering a blood clot to form in the coronary artery. This can lead to chest pain, called angina, or to a heart attack. Less commonly, heart attacks can also be caused by spasms of a coronary artery. If you have a heart attack, the area of the heart muscle supplied by the blocked coronary artery is damaged and doesn't pump as well as it should, a process called ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Heart damage can also be caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, viral illness, pregnancy, and other factors. Heart damage can lead to problems in heart rhythm and heart failure, when the heart can't pump as much blood as you need, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath.
The heart is a muscle; its job is to pump blood to the brain, kidneys, and the rest of the body. The coronary arteries deliver the needed oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. If a coronary artery becomes partially or completely blocked, the... More -
Jessica Crandall of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered:A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol can lead to heart disease. Saturated fat and cholesterol deposit plaque in the arteries and cause sclerosis (hardening). This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. The plaque stops the blood flow to the organs. Animal products, such as meat and cheese, and trans fat are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Ways to decrease the saturated fat are the following:
- Consume polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, such as avocados, nuts, olive oil
- Limit red meat to 1 day a week and choose a lean cut
- Try to eat a vegetarian meal once a week
- Choose fish for a protein at least twice a week
- Don't consume too many coconut products (coconut contains saturated fat)
A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol can lead to heart disease. Saturated fat and cholesterol deposit plaque in the arteries and cause sclerosis (hardening). This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. The plaque stops the blood flow to the... More
