Angina pectoris is a medical condition that literally means a choked chest. The victim feels acute pain in their chest for a few seconds, and then it goes away. This occurs when myocardium cells, the muscle portion of the heart, are temporarily denied oxygen.
At this stage, they do not die, but may be weakened. If left untreated and the disease continues, a serious condition known as myocardial infarction, or commonly called a heart attack, may occur. This can severely damage the heart’s functionality, which in turn affects our well-being. We should be educated about the risks that go along with our cardiovascular system. The most common cause of the condition angina pectoris is overconsumption of cholesterol.
This chemical is only needed in minute amounts, but is often consumed in every meal. In the body, cholesterol is responsible for the stability of plasma membranes of cells, and hormones are produced from it. If consumed at a higher rate than needed, it is stored in the tunica interna, the innermost layer of blood vessels. As it is stored, it starts to build up, eventually clogging the vessel.
As a result of this, all cells fed by the vessel die due to a lack of oxygen. If this condition is found early, it can be corrected with surgical procedures or, in some minor cases, corrective procedures. Surgical procedures include bypass, laser, and balloon surgery. In bypass surgery, a vein is removed from the lower leg and a clogged vessel is worked around.
Often in this type of surgery, the whole midsection of the body is cut, and the ribs are pulled back. This can be very painful and result in a slow recovery. However, some hospitals have now implemented a new technique where only a small hole is made, and everything is done via a view screen. In balloon surgery, a balloon is inserted into the vessel with the clog and inflated. This damages the vessel, causing the cells to repair the damage and clear the clog.
This technique is not as successful as other surgical techniques and often requires multiple attempts before a positive result is seen. Laser surgery is a recent development where a laser is used to scrape the buildup from the vessel. This surgery is one of the most expensive procedures available today. Corrective measures include changes in lifestyle such as food intake, exercise, and stress management.
Food intake is largely the answer to correcting this situation. Excessive intake of cholesterol can increase the risk of a heart attack. Coupled with excessive salt intake, it can produce another problem known as hypertension, or commonly called high blood pressure. This can further increase the risk of a heart attack since the heart has to work harder to achieve a homeostatic state. Therefore, the heart is working with less efficiency.
For example, a runner’s heart may beat 64 times a minute, while a person with hypertension may have a heart rate of 98. The runner’s heart works more efficiently, so it does not need to beat as fast as the person with hypertension. The person with hypertension has a high heart rate because their heart cannot pump as much blood per contraction. Exercise is another corrective procedure prescribed to increase cardiovascular fitness.
As seen above, cardiovascular fitness can reduce the risk of heart attacks. Stress-related issues can increase blood pressure for unknown reasons and therefore can also increase the risk of a heart attack. All these factors can influence the health of our cardiovascular system. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure proper function. This includes handling stress with care, eating properly, and exercising regularly.
