CORONARY HEART DISEASE
Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD), ischaemic heart disease, atherosclerotic heart disease, is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) with oxygen and nutrients. It is the # 1 killer in the U.S. While the symptoms and signs of coronary heart disease are noted in the advanced state of disease, most individuals with coronary heart disease show no evidence of disease for decades as the disease progresses before the first onset of symptoms, often a "sudden" heart attack, finally arise. After decades of progression, some of these atheromatous plaques may rupture and (along with the activation of the blood clotting system) start limiting blood flow to the heart muscle. The disease is the most common cause of sudden death, and is also the most common reason for death of men and women over 20 years of age. According to present trends in the United States, half of healthy 40-year-old males will develop CHD in the future, and one in three healthy 40-year-old women.[3] According to the Guinness Book of Records, Northern Ireland is the country with the most occurrences of CHD.

Over the last couple of years, the public today is much more attentive about the fact that heart disease is as big a problem in women as it is in men[4][5]. Many are now aware that women with some types of heart disease – particularly, coronary heart disease – may not have the same symptoms as men, and for this reason the correct diagnosis in women is often missed or delayed. Taking into account all deaths due to all types of cardiovascular disease, even 461,000 women per year are dying in the United States (compared to 410,000 men). Also, the prevalence of all cardiovascular diseases in the US is higher in women than in men – and increasing with age.(1)




source (1) wikipedia

 

Home