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Causes of Coronary Artery Disease:- |
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Plaque, which is made up of excess cholesterol,
calcium, and other substances in blood, builds up
on the damaged inner walls of the coronary arteries.
This process is
called atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries."
Coronary Artery Disease typically occurs when the inside
walls of the coronary arteries are damaged because of
another health problem, such as: |
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High Cholesterol: Coronary Artery Disease can
occur if levels of cholesterol in the blood are higher
than the healthy levels. This usually is when there are
high levels of Low density cholesterol or bad
cholesterol instead of High Density Cholesterol or good
cholesterol. Low density cholesterol can cause Coronary
Artery Disease since it can build up inside the arteries
and thus restricting blood flow. |
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Hereditary: Coronary Artery Disease can occur if
“it is in the family” which typically means that it is
hereditary and can be passed down from generation to
generation. |
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High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure
increases the risk of Coronary Artery Disease by
damaging the lining of the arteries and increasing the
likelihood of fatty deposits forming in the arteries. |
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Diabetes: Diabetes causes the arteries to harden
which increases the risk of Coronary Artery Disease. |
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Smoking: Smoking causes the platelets in blood to
clump together easily by making blood cells more
"sticky" and more likely to form clots. Clumping
platelets can then block the coronary arteries.
Additionally, smoking can cause spasms in the coronary
arteries, which can reduce the blood flow to the heart.
Cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins can easily enter the
walls of the arteries, where they can develop into plaque. |
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Obesity: Obesity is generally the
result of a unhealthy diet and lack of exercise which
can cause unhealthy fat build up in the coronary
arteries and thus resulting in Coronary Artery Disease. |
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Lack of Regular Exercise: Lack of
exercise can lead to obesity, diabetes, high
cholesterol, and blood pressure, and all these can cause
Coronary Artery Disease. |
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Emotional Stress: Stress can lead
to several unhealthy habits and can have severe effects
on one’s health. Thus, stress is a cause of Coronary
Artery Disease. |
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Effects of Coronary Artery Disease:- |
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The effects of coronary artery disease
are severe and can be fatal. The following are some
effects of coronary artery disease: |
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Heart Attack: One of the most
common effects of coronary artery disease is heart
attack. Heart attack occurs when blood flow to an area
of the artery is completely blocked. This prevents
oxygenated blood from reaching that area of the muscle
and causes it to die. Without immediate treatment, a
heart attack can lead to serious problems and even
death. |
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Heart Failure: Coronary Artery
Disease can weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart
failure. Heart Failure is a condition in which the heart
cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. |
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Arrhythmias: Arrhythmias is also
caused due to weakened heart muscle. Arrhythmias are
problems with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat. |
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