What is heart disease?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is usually caused by atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty material and plaque build up on the walls of the arteries and cause them to narrow. As the coronary arteries narrow, blood flow to the heart can be partially or completely blocked. This results in a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle, which leads to chest pain. A heart attack results when heart muscle is damaged. CAD can also result in heart failure or sudden cardiac death.

The following factors increase your risk of CAD:

• Age 50 or older
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High LDL "bad" cholesterol
• Low HDL "good" cholesterol
• Menopause
• Not getting enough physical activity or exercise
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Higher levels of inflammation-related substances enzymes

However, young adults (age 24-29) with common risk factors, like smoking, obesity, and elevated cholesterol, have a 25 percent risk of having significant narrowing of the coronary arteries. Therefore, all individuals, regardless of age, should follow a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, diet, weight control, and smoking cessation to reduce their risk of heart disease.

For more information, see The American Heart Association .

What are the conventional treatments for heart disease?

When your physician diagnoses coronary artery disease, it is likely that they will suggest basic lifestyle changes. Depending on your specific symptoms and history, the physician may also suggest one or more of the following:

Medication to:

• lower blood pressure
• lower cholesterol
• reduce strain on the heart
• thin the blood to minimize clotting
• increase blood supply to the heart

Procedures or surgery:

• Angioplasty
• Stenting
• Coronary atherectomy
• Coronary artery bypass grafts

What lifestyle changes are recommended for heart disease?

The following basic lifestyle changes can improve your heart health:

• Not smoking
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Doing at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week
• Eating five or more fruits and vegetables daily, minimizing animal fats, getting high fiber

Another important element for cardiac patients is the active participation of their family and support systems. Major lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, stress management, and communication practices are most effectively implemented with the participation of the immediate family members.

Those same family members, especially spouses and partners, also need to make adaptations when their partner is diagnosed with serious cardiac disease. Scroll down to see a list of books that are helpful resources.

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