FREE ESSAY ON HEART DISEASE

HEART DISEASE

Chapter 1 
INTRODUCTION
In today's society, people are gaining medical knowledge at quite a fast pace.
Treatments, cures, and vaccines for various diseases and disorders are being developed
constantly, and yet, coronary heart disease remains the number one killer in the world.
The media today concentrates intensely on drug and alcohol abuse, homicides, AIDS and so
on. What a lot of people are not realizing is that coronary heart disease actually
accounts for about 80% of all sudden deaths. In fact, the number of deaths from heart
disease approximately equals to the number of deaths from cancer, accidents, chronic lung
disease, pneumonia and influenza, and others, COMBINED.
One of the symptoms of coronary heart disease is Angina pectoris or clogged arteries as
it usually called unfortunately, a lot of people do not take it seriously, and thus not
realizing that it may lead to other complications, and even death.
THE HUMAN HEART
In order to understand angina, one must know about our own heart. The human heart is a
powerful muscle in the body which is worked the hardest. A double pump system, the heart
consists of two pumps side by side, which pump blood to all parts of the body. Its steady
beating maintains the flow of blood through the body day and night, year after year,
non-stop from birth until death.
The heart is a hollow, muscular organ slightly bigger than a person's clenched fist. It
is located in the center of the chest, under the breastbone above the sternum, but it is
slanted slightly to the left, giving people the impression that their heart is on the
left side of their chest.
The heart is divided into two halves, which are further divided into four chambers: the
left atrium and ventricle, and the right atrium and ventricle. Each chamber on one side
is separated from the other by a valve, and it is the closure of these valves that
produce the lubb-dubb sound so familiar to us. 
Like any other organs in our body, the heart needs a supply of blood and oxygen, and
coronary arteries supply them. There are two main coronary arteries, the left coronary
artery, and the right coronary artery. They branch off the main artery of the body, the
aorta. The right coronary artery circles the right side and goes to the back of the
heart. The left coronary artery further divides into the left circumflex and the left
anterior descending artery. These two left arteries feed the front and the left side of
the heart. The division of the left coronary artery is the reason why doctors usually
refer to three main coronary arteries. 
SYMPTOMS OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE
There are three main symptoms of coronary heart disease: Heart Attack, Sudden Death, and
Angina.
Heart Attack
Heart attack occurs when a blood clot suddenly and completely blocks a diseased coronary
artery, resulting in the death of the heart muscle cells supplied by that artery.
Coronary and Coronary Thrombosis are terms that can refer to a heart attack. Another
term, Acute myocardial infarction, means death of heart muscle due to an inadequate blood
supply. 
Sudden Death
Sudden death occurs due to cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest may be the first symptom of
coronary artery disease and may occur without any symptoms or warning signs. Other causes
of sudden deaths include drowning, suffocation, electrocution, drug overdose, trauma
(such as automobile accidents), and stroke. Drowning, suffocation, and drug overdose
usually cause respiratory arrest which in turn cause cardiac arrest. Trauma may cause
sudden death by severe injury to the heart or brain, or by severe blood loss. Stroke
causes damage to the brain which can cause respiratory arrest and/or cardiac arrest.
Angina
People with coronary artery disease, whether or not they have had a heart attack, may
experience intermittent chest pain, pressure, or discomforts. This situation is known as
angina pectoris. It occurs when the narrowing of the coronary arteries temporarily
prevents an adequate supply of blood and oxygen to meet the demands of working heart
muscles.
Chapter 2
ANGINA PECTORIS
Angina Pectoris (from angina meaning strangling, and pectoris meaning breast) is commonly
known simply as angina and means pain in the chest. The term angina was first used during
a lecture in 1768 by Dr. William Heberden. The word was not intended to indicate pain,
but rather strangling, with a secondary sensation of fear. 
Victims suffering from angina may experience pressure, discomfort, or a squeezing
sensation in the center of the chest behind the breastbone. The pain may radiate to the
arms, the neck, even the upper back, and the pain may come and go. It occurs when the
heart is not receiving enough oxygen to meet an increased demand.
Angina, as mentioned before, is only temporarily, and it does not cause any permanent
damage to the heart muscle. The underlying coronary heart disease, however, continues to
progress unless actions are taken to prevent it from becoming worse.
Signs and Symptoms
Angina does not necessarily involve pain. The feeling varies from individuals. In fact,
some people described it as chest pressure, chest distress, heaviness, burning feeling,
constriction, tightness, and many more.
A person with angina may feel discomforts that fit one or several of the following
descriptions:
Mild, vague discomfort in the center of the chest, which may radiate to the left shoulder
or arm 
Dull ache, pins and needles, heaviness or pains in the arms, usually more severe in the
left arm 
Pain that feels like severe indigestion 
Heaviness, tightness, fullness, dull ache, intense pressure, a burning, vice-like,
constriction, squeezing sensation in the chest, throat or upper abdomen 
Extreme tiredness, exhaustion of a feeling of collapse 
Shortness of breath, choking sensation 
A sense of foreboding or impending death accompanying chest discomfort 
Pains in the jaw, gums, teeth, throat or ear lobe
Pains in the back or between the shoulder blades
Angina can be so severe that a person may feel frightened, or so mild that it might be
ignored. Angina attacks are usually short, from one or two minutes to a maximum of about
four to five. It usually goes away with rest, within a couple of minutes, or ten minutes
at the most. (LIVING WITH ANGINA)
Different Forms of Angina
There are several known forms of angina. Brief pain that comes on exertion and leave
fairly quickly on rest is known as stable angina. When angina pain occurs during rest, it
is called unstable angina. The symptoms are usually severe and the coronary arteries are
badly narrowed. If a person suffers from unstable angina, there is a higher risk for that
person to develop heart attacks. The pain may come up to 20 times a day, and it can wake
a person up, especially after a disturbing dream. 
Another type of angina is called atypical or variant angina. In this type of angina, pain
occurs only when a person is resting or asleep rather than from exertion. It is thought
to be the result of coronary artery spasm, a sort of cramp that narrows the arteries.
Causes of Angina
The main cause of angina is the narrowing of the coronary arteries. In a normal person,
the inner walls of the coronary arteries are smooth and elastic, allowing them to
constrict and expand. This flexibility permits varying amounts of oxygenated blood,
appropriate to the demand at the time, to flow through the coronary arteries. As a person
grows older, fatty deposits will accumulate on the artery walls, especially if the
linings of the arteries are damaged due to cigarette smoking or high blood pressure. When
people are very tense, they usually over-breathe or hold their breath altogether.
Shallow, irregular but rapid breathing washes out carbon dioxide from the system and the
blood will become over-oxygenated. One might think that the more oxygen in the blood the
better, but overloaded blood actually does not give up oxygen as easily, therefore the
amount of oxygen available to the heart is reduced. Carbon dioxide is present in the
blood in the form of carbonic acid, when there is a loss in carbonic acid, the blood
becomes more basic, or alkaline, which leads to spasm of blood vessels, almost certainly
in the brain but also in the heart another factor maybe atherosclerosis.
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
The coronary arteries may be clogged with atherosclerotic plaques, thus narrowing the
diameter. Plaques are usually collections of connection tissue, fats, and smooth muscle
cells. The plaque project into the lumen, the passageway of the artery, and interfere
with the flow of blood. In a normal artery, the smooth muscle cells are in the middle
layer of the arterial wall; in ATHEROSCLEROSIS they migrate into the inner layer. The
reason behind their migration could hold the answers to explain the existence of
ATHEROSCLEROSIS. Two theories have been developed for the cause of ATHEROSCLEROSIS.
The first theory was suggested by German pathologist Rudolf Virchow over 100 years ago.
He proposed that the passage of fatty material into the arterial wall is the initial
cause of ATHEROSCLEROSIS. The fatty material, especially cholesterol, acts as an
irritant, and the arterial wall respond with an outpouring of cells, creating
atherosclerotic plaque. 
The second theory was developed by Austrian pathologist Karl Von Rokitansky in 1852. He
suggested that atherosclerotic plaques are aftereffects of blood-clot organization
(thrombosis). The clot adheres to the intima and is gradually converted to a mass of
tissue, which evolves into a plaque. 
There are evidences to support the latter theory. It has been found that platelets and
fibrin (a protein, the final product in thrombosis) are often found in atherosclerotic
plaques, also found are cholesterol crystals and cells which are rich in lipid. The
evidence suggests that thrombosis may play a role in ATHEROSCLEROSIS, and in the
development of the more complicated atherosclerotic plaque. Though thrombosis may be
important in initiating the plaque, an elevated blood lipid level may accelerate arterial
narrowing. (FIGHTING HEART DISEASE)
Chapter 3
C.I.P portion of my paper cannot be in-depthly discussed until I finish my community
service At Canterbury Inn medical assisted center. This why at this time cannot give a
accurate evaluation of my work until it finished.
Chapter 4
RISK FACTORS
There are several risk factors that contribute to the development of ATHEROSCLEROSIS and
angina: Family history, Diabetes, Hypertension, Cholesterol, and Smoking.
Family History
We all carry approximately 50 genes that affect the function and structure of the heart
and blood vessels. Genetics can determine one's risk of having heart disease. There are
many cases today where heart disease runs in a family, for many generations. 
Diabetes
Diabetics are at least twice as likely to develop angina than non-diabetics, and the risk
is higher in women than in men. Diabetes causes metabolic injury to the lining of
arteries, as a result, the tiny blood vessels that nourish the walls of medium-size
arteries throughout the body, including the coronary arteries, become defective. These
microscopic vessels become blocked, impeding the delivery of blood to the lining of the
larger arteries, causing them to deteriorate, and arteriosclerosis results.
Hypertension
High blood pressure directly injures the artery lining by several mechanisms. The
increased pressure compresses the tiny vessels that feed the artery wall, causing
structural changes in these tiny arteries. Microscopic fracture lines then develop in the
arterial wall. The cells lining the arteries are compressed and injured, and can no
longer act as an adequate barrier to cholesterol and other substances collecting in the
inner walls of the blood vessels. 
Cholesterol
Cholesterol has become one of the most important issues in the last decade. Reducing
cholesterol intake can directly decrease one's risk of developing heart disease, and
people today are more conscious of what they eat, and how much cholesterol their foods
contain. 
Cholesterol causes ATHEROSCLEROSIS by progressively narrowing the arteries and reduces
blood flow. The building up of fatty deposits actually begins at an early age, and the
process progresses slowly. By the time the person reaches middle-age, a high cholesterol
level can be expected.
Smoking
It has been proven that about the only thing smoking do is shorten a person's life.
Despite all the warnings by the surgeon general, people still manage to find an excuse to
quit smoking.
Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, radioactive polonium, nicotine, arsenious
oxide, benzopyrene, and levels of radon and molybdenum that are TWENTY times the
allowable limit for ambient factory air. The two agents that have the most significant
effect on the cardiovascular system are carbon monoxide and nicotine. 
Nicotine has no direct effect on the heart or the blood vessels, but it stimulates the
nerves on these structures to cause the secretion of adrenaline. The increase of
adrenaline and noradrenaline increases blood pressure and heart rate by about 10% for an
hour per cigarette. In simpler words, nicotine causes the heart to beat more vigorously.
Carbon monoxide, on the other hand, poisons the normal transport systems of cell
membranes lining the coronary arteries. This protective lining breaks down, exposing the
undersurface to the ravages of the passing blood, with all its clotting factors as well
as cholesterol.
Multiple Risk Factors
The five major risk factors described above do more than just add to one another. There
is a virtual multiplication effect in victims with more than one risk factor. 
Chapter 5
my recommendation for angina pectoris is that you follow a few steps you first get a
acute diagnosis and if find out the you have it seek drug treatments and if worse come to
worse surgery and the most important thing to counteract this heart problem is self help
because this heart problem can be decreased with proper self motivation.
DIAGNOSIS
It is very important for patients to tell their doctors of the symptoms as honestly and
accurately as possible. The doctor will need to know about other symptoms that may
distinguish angina from other conditions, such as esophagitis, pleurisy, costochondritis,
pericarditis, a broken rib, a pinched nerve, a ruptured aorta, a lung tumor, gallstones,
ulcers, pancreatitis, a collapsed lung or just be nervous. Each of the above mentioned is
capable of causing chest pain.
A patient may take a physical examination, which includes taking the pulse and blood
pressure, listening to the heart and lung with a stethoscope, and checking weight.
Usually an experienced cardiologist can distinguish it as a cardiac or noncardiac
situation within minutes.
There are also routine tests, such as urine and blood tests, which can be used to
determine body fat level. Blood test can also tests for:
Anemia - where the level of haemogoblin is too low, and can restrict the supply of blood
to the heart.
Kidney function - levels of various salts, and waste products, mainly urea and creatinine
in the blood. Normally these levels should be quite low.
There are other factors which can be tested such as salt level, blood fat and sugar
levels. 
A chest x-ray provides the doctor with information about the size of the heart. Like any
other muscles in the body, if the heart works too hard for a period of time, it develops,
or enlarges. 
DRUG TREATMENT
Angina patients are usually prescribed at least one drug. Some of the drugs prescribed
improve blood flow, while others reduce the strain on the heart. Commonly prescribed
drugs are nitrates, beta-blockers, and Calcium antagonists. It should be noted that drugs
for angina only relief the pain, it does nothing to correct the underlying disorder.
Nitrates
Nitroglycerine, which is the basis of dynamite, relaxes the smooth fibers of the blood
vessels, allowing the arteries to dilate. They have a tendency to produce flushing and
headaches because the arteries in the head and other parts of the body will also dilate.

Glycerol trinitrate is a short-acting drug in the form of small tablets. It is taken
under the tongue for maximum and rapid absorption since that area is lined with
capillaries. It usually relieves the pain within a minute or two. One of the drawbacks of
trinitrates is that they can be exposed too long as they deteriorate in sunlight.
Trinitrates also come in the form of ointment or transdermal sticky patch which can be
applied to the skin.
Dinitrates and mononitrates are used for the prevention of angina attacks rather than as
pain relievers. They are slower acting than trinitrates, but they have a more prolonged
effect. They have to be taken regularly, usually three to four times a day.
Dinitrates are more common than trinitrates or tetranitrates.
Beta-blockers
Beta-blockers are used to prevent angina attacks. They reduce the work of the heart by
regulating the heart beat, as well as blood pressure; the amount of oxygen required is
thereby reduced. These drugs can block the effects of the stress hormones adrenaline and
noradrenaline at sites called beta receptors in the heart and blood vessels. These
hormones increase both blood pressure and heart rate. Other sites affected by these
hormones are known as alpha receptors.
There are side effects, however, for using beta-blockers. Further reduction in the
pumping action may drive to a heart failure if the heart is strained by heart disease.
Hands and feet get cold due to the constriction of peripheral vessels. Beta-blockers can
sometimes pass into the brain fluids, and causes vivid dreams, sleep disturbance, and
depression. There is also a possibility of developing skin rashes and dry eyes. Some
beta-blockers raise the level of blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
Calcium antagonists
These drugs help prevent angina by moping up calcium in the artery walls. The arteries
then become relaxed and dilated, so reducing the resistance to blood flow, and the heart
receives more blood and oxygen. They also help the heart muscle to use the oxygen and
nutrients in the blood more efficiently. In larger dose they also help lower the blood
pressure. The drawback for calcium antagonists is that they tend to cause dizziness and
fluid retention, resulting in swollen ankles. 
Other Medications
There are new drugs being developed constantly. Pexid, for example, is useful if other
drugs fail in severe angina attacks. However, it produces more side effects than others,
such as pins and needles and numbness in limbs, muscle weakness, and liver damage. It may
also precipitate diabetes, and damages to the retina. (FIGHTING HEART DISEASE)
SURGERY
When medications or any other means of treatment are unable to control the pain of angina
attacks, surgery is considered. There are two types of surgical operation available:
Coronary Bypass and Angioplasty. The bypass surgery is the more common, while Angioplasty
is relatively new and is also a minor operation. Surgery is only a last resort to provide
relief and should not be viewed as a permanent cure for the underlying disease, which can
only be controlled by changing one's lifestyle. 
Coronary Bypass Surgery
The bypass surgery involves extracting a vein from another part of the body, usually the
leg, and uses it to construct a detour around the diseased coronary artery. This
procedure restores the blood flow to the heart muscle. 
Although this may sound risky, the death rate is actually below 3 per cent. This risk is
higher, however, if the disease is widespread and if the heart muscle is already
weakened. If the grafted artery becomes blocked, a heart attack may occur after the
operation. 
The number of bypasses depends on the number of coronary arteries affected. Coronary
artery disease may affect one, two, or all three arteries. If more than one artery is
affected, then several grafts will have to be carried out during the operation. About 20
per cent of the patients considered for surgery have only one diseased vessel. In 50 per
cent of the patients, there are two affected arteries, and in 30 per cent the disease
strikes all three arteries. These patients are known to be suffering from triple vessel
disease and require a triple-bypass. Triple vessel disease and disease of the left main
coronary artery before it divides into two branches are the most serious conditions. 
The operation itself incorporates making an incision down the length of the breastbone in
order to expose the heart. The patient is connected to a heart-lung machine, which takes
over the function of the heart and lungs during the operation and also keeps the patient
alive. At the same time, a small incision is made on the leg to remove a section of the
vein.
Once the section of vein has been removed, it is attached to the heart. One end of the
vein is sewn to the aorta, while the other end is sewn into the affected coronary artery
just beyond the diseased segment. The grafted vein now becomes the new artery through
which the blood can flow freely beyond the obstruction. The original artery is thus
bypassed. The whole operation requires about four to five hours, and may be longer if
there is more than one bypass involved. After the operation, the patient is sent to the
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for recovery. 
The angina pain is usually relieved or controlled, partially or completely, by the
operation. However, the operation does not cure the underlying disease, so the effects
may begin to diminish after a while, which may be anywhere from a few months to several
years. The only way patients can avoid this from happening is to change their
lifestyles.
Angioplasty
This operation is a relatively new procedure, and it is known in full as transluminal
balloon coronary Angioplasty. It entails squashing the atherosclerotic plaque with
balloons. A very thin balloon catheter is inserted into the artery in the arm or the leg
of a patient under general anaesthetic. The balloon catheter is guided under x-ray just
beyond the narrowed coronary artery. Once there, the balloon is inflated with fluid and
the fatty deposits are squashed against the artery walls. The balloon is then deflated
and drawn out of the body. 
This technique is a much simpler and more economical alternative to the bypass surgery.
The procedure itself requires less time and the patient only remains in the hospital for
a few days afterward. Exactly how long the operation takes depends on where and in how
many places the artery is narrowed. It is most suitable when the disease is limited to
the left anterior descending artery, but sometimes the plaques are simply too hard,
making them impossible to be squashed, in which case a bypass might be necessary. (HEART
DISEASE)
SELF-HELP
The only way patients can prevent the condition of their heart from deteriorating any
further is to change their lifestyles. Although drugs and surgery exist, if the heart is
exposed to pressure continuously and it strains any further, there will come one day when
nothing works, and all that remain is a one-way ticket to heaven.
The following are some advice's on how people can change the way they live, and enjoy a
lifetime with a healthy heart once more.
Work
A person should limit the amount of exertions to the point where angina might occur. This
varies from person to person, some people can do just as much work as they did before
developing angina, but only at a slower pace. Try to delegate more, reassess your
priorities, and learn to pace yourself. If the rate of work is uncontrollable, think
about changing the job.
Exercise
Everyone should exercise regularly to one's limits. This may sound contradictory that, on
the one hand, you are told to limit your exertion and, on the other, you are told to
exercise. It is actually better if one exercise regularly within his or her limits.
Exercises can be grouped into two categories: isotonic and isometric. People suffering
from angina should limit themselves to only isotonic exercises. This means one group of
muscle is relaxed while another group is contracted. Examples of this type of exercise
include walking, swimming leisurely, and yoga; some harder exercises are cycling and
jogging.
Weight Loss
The more weight there is on the body, the more work the heart has to do. Reducing
unnecessary weight will reduce the amount of strain on the heart, and likely lower blood
pressure as well. One can lose weight by simply eating less than their normal intake, but
keep in mind that the major goal is to cut down on fatty and sugar foods, which are low
in nutrients and high in calories.
Diet
What you eat can have a direct effect on the kind of condition you are in. To stay fit
and healthy, eat fewer animal fats, and foods that are high in cholesterol. They include
fatty meat, lard, sweets, butter, cream and hard cheese, eggs, prawns, offal and so on.
Also, the amount of salt intake should be reduced. Eat more food containing a high amount
of fiber, such as wholegrain cereal products, pulses, whole-meal bread, as well as fresh
fruits and vegetables.
Alcohol, tea and coffee
Alcohol in moderation does no harm to the body, but it does contain calories and may slow
the weight loss progress. People can drink as much mineral water, fruit juice and
ordinary or herb tea as they wish, but no more than two cups of coffee per day.
Cigarettes
It has been medically proven that cigarettes do the body no good at all. It makes the
heart beat faster, constricts the blood vessels, and generally increases the amount of
work the heart has to do. The only right thing to do is to quit smoking, it will not be
easy, but it is worth the effort. 
Stress
Stress can actually be classified as a major risk factor, and it is one neglected by most
people. Try to avoid those heated arguments and emotional situations that increase blood
pressure, as well as stimulate the release of stress hormones. If they are unavoidable,
try to anticipate them and prevent the attack by sucking an angina tablet beforehand.
Relaxation
Help your body to relax when feeling tense by sitting or lying down quietly. Close your
eyes, breathe slowly and deeply through the nose, make each exhalation long, soft and
steady. An adequate amount of sleep each night is always important.
CONCLUSION
Angina pectoris is not a disease which affect a person's heart permanently, but to
encounter angina pain means something is wrong. The pain is the heart's distress signal,
a built-in warning device indicating that the heart has reached its maximum workload.
Upon experiencing angina, precautions should be taken. This mean you should go see a
doctor now!!! Don't hesitate.
A person's lifestyle also plays a major role in determining the chance of developing
heart diseases. If people do not learn how to prevent it themselves, coronary artery
disease will remain as the single biggest killer in the world, by far.
Bibliography
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Amsterdam, Ezra A. and Ann M. Holms. TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART new York, Facts on File,
1984
Houston, B. Kent and C.R. Snyder. TYPE A BEHAVIOUR PATTERN, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
1988
Pantano, James A. LIVING WITH ANGINA, New York, Harper & Row, 1990.
Patel, Chandra. FIGHTING HEART DISEASE, Toronto, Macmillan, 1988.
Shillingford, J.P CORONARY HEART DISEASE: THE FACTS,
Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1982.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION - BASIC RESCUER
MANUAL, Canada, 1987
Tiger, Steven. HEART DISEASE, New York, Julian Messner, 1986.