Coronary heart disease is a condition caused by atherosclerosis!
Diabetes is a caused of coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is a condition that can be brought on by diabetes. This disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the muscle of the heart become hardened and very narrowed. The hardening and thickening of the coronary arteries occur as result of the build of a material called plaque.
This condition is also known as atherosclerosis. The coronary arteries of a diabetes or non-diabetes individual will become more and more narrower as the build up of this plaque material increases. This condition will lead to a reduction in blood and oxygen flow to the heart muscle. It will also lead to coronary heart disease.
Complications of restricted blood flow
Whenever the blood and oxygen flow to the heart muscle is restricted, other heart conditions or complications may result. These complications can include:
Angina. This condition occurs as a result of the heart being starved of blood. Symptoms of this coronary heart disease problem, are chest pains in diabetes and non-diabetes individuals.
Heart attack. Heart attacks occur when individuals develop a blood clot in one of the coronary artery where there is a build up of plaque present.
This causes the blood supply to the heart muscle to be suddenly cut off. As a result of this problem, the cells of the heart begin to die because of the restriction in the oxygen and blood supply.
Heart failure. This condition indicates that the heart of the individual can no longer pump oxygenated blood effectively to the rest of their body.
Arrhythmias. This condition is normally recognized in diabetes and non-diabetes patients by the changes that occur in the regular beating rhythm of their hearts.
Acute coronary syndrome. This is also a part of heart disease, that describes those people that have had an unstable angina.
Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection. Symptoms of this condition is a stretched or dilated aorta.
Cardiomyopathy. This is a coronary artery disease condition that symbolizes the weakening of the heart muscle. As a result of this, the heart can not pump blood adequately.
Congenial heart disease. This heart condition occurs during pregnancy or at birth. Indications of this disease are malfunctions in the structure of the heart. These malfunctions include holes in the walls that divide an infants heart chambers and/or abnormal heart valves.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). This happens when the arteries that supply blood to the legs and arms, become hardened. Atherosclerosis is usually the cause of PAD which can lead to a restriction in oxygen and blood flow.
Rheumatic heart disease. As a result of this heart disease problem, damage to both the inner structures and valves will occur. This happen because of inflammation and scarring which are brought on by rheumatic fever.
Rheumatic heart disease is a symptom of streptococcal infection.
According to medical statistics, 700,000 individuals die from coronary heart disease in the United States every year. This also means that heart disease this is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for about 29% of the death rate in America.
Video on diabetes and heart disease
Risk factors that lead to coronary heart disease!
As I mentioned earlier, atherosclerosis is the cause for coronary artery disease. However for many diabetics and non-diabetics, our way of life can put many of us at very high risks for developing heart disease.
Some of these known risk factors include conditions such as:
High Blood Pressure. This condition is another major risk factor that causes coronary heart disease problems in diabetics as well as non-diabetics. Some individuals may not know that they have high blood pressure because this condition often does not show any signs that it is present.
High blood pressure can be treated with proper medications and a change in ones lifestyle.
High blood cholesterol levels. When there is to much cholesterol in our bodies, the excess stick to the walls of our arteries causing narrowing hardening of our arteries. This is one of the risk factors that leads to coronary heart disease. This health problem also causes other serious complications.
Diabetes Mellitus. Our chances of developing coronary heart disease increases dramatically when we are diagnosed with diabetes. Medical statistics revealed that more than half the people diagnosed with diabetes, have died as result of heart and blood vessel diseases due to their illness.
Diabetes means that our bodies can no longer produce the insulin hormone or it fails to properly utilize the hormone once it has produced it.
Smoking. Diabetics and non-diabetics must realize that smoking increases their risks for developing coronary artery disease. The smoke from the tobacco causes the development of atherosclerosis and it produces high levels of fibrinogen which is a condition that causes blood clotting.
Smoking also causes an elevation in your blood pressure because of the nicotine found in the cigarette. Non-smokers have to be just as careful as well because second hand smoke will increased their chances for developing heart disease.
Our Diets. Food that are high in cholesterol and saturated fats promotes coronary heart disease. Blood pressure levels are increased because of high intake of salt that many of us include in our diets.
Lack of exercise. Failure to carry out a regular scheduled exercise program, will result in people developing coronary artery disease. Diabetics and non-diabetics put themselves at risk for developing other conditions due to their sedentary lifestyle.
Controlling your diabetes through proper management
Do not smoke
Drinking moderately
Maintaining a healthy and safe weight.
Following a regularly scheduled exercise program.
Following a healthy diet plan that is low in saturated fats.
As you can see, with some simple lifestyle changes and following some simple steps, can help diabetics and non diabetics avoid or prevent coronary heart disease. Science has made tremendous strides in the areas of Diabetes and Heart Disease.
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