Coronary heart disease is a common term for plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart, which could lead to a heart attack or ischemic stroke. But what about coronary heart disease? Is there a difference?
The short answer is often no: healthcare professionals often use the terms interchangeably. However, coronary heart disease, or CHD, is actually the result of coronary artery disease, or CAD.
With coronary artery disease, plaque first develops in the walls of the coronary arteries until blood flow to the heart muscle is restricted, preventing the heart muscle from receiving enough oxygen. This is also called ischemia. This may be a progressive narrowing of the coronary artery over time, reducing blood supply to part of the muscle. Or it can be acute, resulting from a sudden rupture of a plaque and the formation of a blood clot. For most people, plaque buildup begins in childhood and worsens with age.
See an illustration of the coronary arteries.
Traditional risk factors for coronary heart disease are high LDL cholesterolweak HDL cholesterol, high blood pressurefamily history, diabetes, smoking and obesity. In men, the risk increases after age 45. In women, the risk increases after age 55.
Research shows that children and young people are increasingly at risk of developing coronary heart disease. Thus, preventive measures taken early in life may have greater benefits throughout life. Healthy lifestyles will delay the progression of CHD, and it is hoped that it can be improved before it causes other health problems.
Living a healthy lifestyle that combines Good nutrition, weight management and get a lot of physical activity can play an important role in avoiding CAD.
