Coronary vascular disease (CVD), also known as coronary artery disease, refers to a condition in which cholesterol (fatty substances in your body) clogs blood vessels and damages your heart. According to the National Heart and Lung Institute, CVD is the leading cause of death in both men and women.
Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, narrowed arteries in the body lead to less oxygen going to the heart. Therefore, coronary vascular disease's most common symptoms include chest pain, trouble breathing or a heart attack. Call your doctor if you have these symptoms.
Risk Factors
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, risk factors for coronary vascular disease are the following: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, age, family history and metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of specific diseases such as diabetes and stroke that lead to coronary vascular disease.
Treatment
Various treatments exist to treat coronary vascular disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, they include lifestyle changes such as reducing stress and losing weight, medications such as aspirin and beta-blockers (to reduce stress on the heart) and certain procedures such as coronary artery bypass surgery (allows blood to flow around blocked vessels). The choice of treatment depends on the extent of coronary vascular disease.
Warning
If you experience crushing chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911 immediately. You may be having a heart attack or an arrythmia (irregular heartbeat).
Prevention
According to the Mayo Clinic, coronary vascular disease takes years to develop in your body, and a heart attack may be your first symptom. Go to your doctor regularly so he or she can check your cholesterol levels. Also, you can take control of your health by dieting and exercising.
