Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most common and most deadly heart diseases. Not only is CAD responsible for more than half of all heart disease related deaths each year, but it’s also very preventable. It can take years for CAD to reach a severity at which is becomes noticeable. Unfortunately, at this point that sign may be a heart attack, which can be fatal in and of itself. This makes it all the more important for everyone to understand the causes of CAD.
Atherosclerosis
As early as childhood, experts believe, the arteries, particularly the coronary arteries (those that bring oxygen-rich blood to the heart), begin to be damaged by lifestyle choices and underlying conditions. At the site of this damage, plaque begins to form, resulting in a condition called atherosclerosis. Plaque is waxy, made up of cholesterol, fat, debris, and other cellular odds and ends; slowly it builds up until it becomes more and more difficult for blood to pass through the artery. When this reaches the coronary arteries, CAD is present. The heart can no longer receive oxygen-rich blood as efficiently as it once did and will eventually have difficulty keeping up with the body’s demands for blood.
Lifestyle Choices
So what causes the initial, plaque-inducing damage to occur? Smoking is one of the biggest, most preventable culprits. Cigarettes, by their very nature and chemical components, damage basically the entire cardiac system. A lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet can also contribute to CAD. Leading a sedentary lifestyle means the heart rarely has to work, growing weaker and less efficient. As the atherosclerosis develops, it is unprepared for the increased workload. Combined with bad eating, obesity may develop—another risk factor experts have long suspected. Obesity also tends to make other factors more severe.
Underlying Conditions
Poor lifestyle choices can also cause high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, which may damage the arteries sufficiently for CAD to set in. However, genetics certainly plays a role in these underlying diseases as well. Diabetes is another underlying condition that can increase the chances of developing atherosclerosis.
Internal Factors
Additionally, there are a handful of uncontrollable factors that contribute to the risks of CAD. Simply growing older puts both men and women at risk, although men tend to be at a greater risk in general, especially after age 45. Postmenopausal women may face similar chances. If other members of your family have CAD, the chances are greater that you will develop it as well. As well as contributing to atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, the factors tend to group together and lead to each other. Ultimately, the causes of CAD should reinforce the need for a healthy lifestyle to keep the cardiovascular system in prime condition.
