One of the major blood vessel diseases is called coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease. Arteries that surround the heart are called coronary arteries. These arteries deliver blood that is filled with fresh oxygen from your lungs to your heart tissue. These arteries can become less efficient and/or are not able to deliver oxygen to your heart. The right type and amount of exercise can be both prevention and treatment of this type of blood vessel disease.
Description
Coronary heart disease/artery disease occurs when the coronary arteries are no longer efficiently delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart. The major cause of this is when the arteries become lined with plaque. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, plaque is made of "fat, calcium, cholesterol and other substances found in your blood." When this plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries, they become hard. This hardening is also called atherosclerosis. This makes your arteries less efficient, can lead to blood clots and heart attacks.
Significance
When your coronary arteries become diseased or harden, this makes your arteries less flexible and less able to meet the oxygen demands of your heart tissue. Think of a garden hose that has hardened and try to imagine that hose delivering water around a curve or corner. Heart tissue, like all other tissues of the body, dies without oxygen. This hardening of the arteries can lead to blood clots, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks or heart failure.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that has been scientifically proven to increase your risk of a condition, in this case coronary heart disease/artery disease. A contributing risk factor is a factor that only contributes to the risk. According to the American Heart Association, risk factors for coronary heart disease include age, gender (males have a higher risk than females) and genetics (both family history and your ethnicity). Others include tobacco, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity, and overweight and diabetes. Contributing risk factors include stress and too much alcohol.
Prevention
Prevention of coronary heart disease/artery disease includes regular check-ups with your doctor and preventing risk factors where you can. Your doctor can determine your blood cholesterol level, blood pressure and help educate you as to a healthy body weight. Do not smoke, or else quit smoking if you are a smoker. Your doctor can assist you with this as well. Maintain a well-balanced and healthy diet low in oils and fats. Maintain good physical activity. According to the American Heart Association, adults should be getting at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week.
Treatment
Treatment of coronary heart disease/artery disease includes modifying your risk factors mentioned above and medical treatment under a doctor's orders. Medical treatment may include medicines and possibly surgery in severe cases. Exercise can assist in modifying risk factors. Always consult a doctor before starting an exercise program if you have the diagnosis of coronary heart disease/artery disease. "Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most or all of the days of the week. Examples include: brisk walking, dancing, bowling, bicycling, gardening and housecleaning."
Warning
Always consult your doctor before starting an exercise program.
