Atherosclerosis: The Silent Killer Essay examples -- essays research p

Atherosclerosis: The Silent Killer Atherosclerosis is one of a group of health problems that define coronary artery disease, oftentimes referred to as heart disease. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of heart disease in the United States. The following is the definition provided by the American Heart Association: Atherosclerosis (ath"er-o-skleh-RO'sis) comes from the Greek words athero (meaning gruel or paste) and sclerosis (hardness). It's the name of the process in which deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. This buildup is called plaque. It usually affects large and medium-sized arteries. Some hardening of arteries often occurs when people grow older (AHA, 2005). Atherosclerosis is different from Arteriosclerosis, though the two are oftentimes concurrently present as a result of heart disease and are likewise confused. Arteriosclerosis is defined by the Well-Net group as: ...during which the arteries of the cardiovascular system develop areas which become hard and brittle. Vessels become thickened. There is a loss of elasticity. It can involve the arteries of the cardiovascular system, the brain, kidneys, upper and lower extremities. This occurs because of the deposition of calcium in their walls. Atherosclerosis often leads to coronary heart disease, strokes, and other disorders because of the occurrence of blood clots which form in the narrowed arteries; hardening of the arteries, on the other hand occur only in advanced stages (Lawrence, 1997). There are factors that can be controlled to aid in the prevention of atherosclerosis. The following research will address seven major â€Å"controllable† factors with special focus on how a person’s diet can help minimize the risk of developing this debilitating disease, or preventing a heart attack if the disease is already present. According to The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, â€Å"Coronary artery disease, also called coronary heart disease, or simply, heart disease, is the No. 1 killer in America, affecting more than 12 million Americans (Webmd.com, 2005).† Atherosclerosis occurs when the arteries that feed blood to the heart become narrowed due to the build up of plaque. This plaque is m... ...;June 5, 2005, from http://imaginis.com/heart-disease/cad_risk.asp Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (JHBMC 2005). Exercise and heart disease. Retrieved July 13, 2005 from http://www.jhbmc.jhu.edu/cardiology/rehab/exercise.chd.html Lawrence, A., M.D, (1997), Arteriosclerosis. Retrieved July 12, 2005 from http://www.well-net.com/cardiov/arterios.html Maltin, L.J., M.D. (2002), Fish oil fights heart disease. WebMD Feature, Retreived July 12, 2005 from http://my.webmd.com/content/article/17/1671_53159.htm?printing=true Mayo Clinic / CNN.com (2005). Diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Retrieved July 13, 2005 from http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DA/00052.html National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (NHLBI) (1999). Statement from the national high blood pressure program. Retrieved July 13, 2005 from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/hbp/salt_up2.htm NHLBI.com (2003, August). Coronary artery disease. Retrieved June 4, 2005, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Cad/CAD_WhatIs.html