Coronary heart disease is sometimes referred to as coronary artery disease and it occurs when the coronary arteries (the vessel that transport blood from the lungs to the heart) narrows due to the buildup of a plaque within the walls of the arteries. This narrowing causes an opposition to the blood flow and this in turn results in a reduction in the amount of oxygen-rich blood that reaches the heart.
This condition also comes along with a number of long term effects that might come after a year or 2 if it’s not treated well. Knowing these long term effects will give you more reason to take your diet and exercise treatments more seriously.
Here are 3 long-term effects of coronary heart disease that will give you more reason and determination to live a healthier life.
1. Unstable Angina
Coronary heart disease causes inadequate flow of blood into the heart and this leads to a type of chest pain called angina. Angina causes your chest to feel tight or to experience a burning sensation. The pain might even radiate to different parts of your body like your arms and neck. A case of stable angina is completely different from that of unstable angina.
If you have stable angina, you can easily predict the times that you are likely to experience the chest pain, such as after exertion (vigorous action or effort). But in the case of unstable angina, the pain might come anytime, without warning. If you experience unexplained sudden chest pain, it’s important that you see your doctor immediately.
2. Heart failure
Heart failure doesn’t mean that your heart stops beating or functioning. Heart failure simply means that your heart isn’t able to pump blood as efficiently as it’s supposed to. This is caused due to interruption of blood flow in the coronary arteries. Inadequate amounts of blood flow into the heart and this gradually damages your heart muscles and this in turn is what causes weak and ineffective pumping actions.
Symptoms of heart failure might include difficulty in breathing, fatigue and swelling in your lower limbs.
To avoid heart failure, eat healthy foods such as, fruits and vegetables, fatty fishes, whole grains. Also reduce the amount of salt you eat, and avoid foods that are high in carbohydrate and saturated fats.
3. Heart attack
Chronic coronary heart disease may lead to a heart attack. Heart attacks occur when the plaque completely blocks the blood flow. During a heart attack, the heart won’t receive any blood, which will cause permanent damage and may result in death. Some of the symptoms of a heart attack include: shortage of breath, chest pain, and pain that radiates to the arms and the jaw too. If you experience any of these symptoms, the closest person close to you should immediately call for an ambulance.
Conclusion
If you needed 3 extra reasons why you should exercise consistently and eat a healthy diet daily, there you go.
The best and most efficient way of preventing these conditions is regular exercise and a consistently healthy diet.