Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis

Question: causes for coronary artery disease/coronary atherosclerosis in young adults? i am in my late 20's and was diagnosed last week with CAD, coronary atherosclerosis which they said is classified as Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease & also unspecified essential hypertension (ICD 9 codes were 414.01 & 401.9). everything i'm reading online to try and ease my mind about having this at such a young age is saying that usually when you have this at my age, it's caused by abuse of stimulant drugs like amphetamines and cocaine...i have never put a cigarette in my mouth, much less an illegial drug so i am wondering now what other causes could be. i was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse/regurg at age 12 so maybe that has something to do with it? i also have adult ADHD and took Adderall 20 mg. 2x's a day for 2 years up until about 8 months ago when i decided to go the natural way and see how that would work...i know adderall is an amphetamine but i only took it 2 years off and on and never abused it. sorry for the excess details, but hopefully someone out there can help!

Answer: How about stress ? I have a severe stress reaction in action movies, and my heart rate zooms up. Two years ago I actually suffered a valve strain watching a battle scene in the movie Troy. Another common symptom that suggests drug use is arterial ectasia. That's the term for severely dilated arteries. I have that, so when in the ER for a minor heart attack, they saw that on my record and asked over and over if I used cocaine. Ectasia is 10 times more common in coke users. With ectasia, blood flow slows, and its easier for bad cholesterol to collect and form blockages. The stretching leaves damage that the body tries to repair, but results in the initial blockages. If you exercise very hard without warming up, that also puts a strain on the arteries, and might aggravate ectasia. I also did that, for decades. Do everything the doctor recommends. E-mail me if you have questions on exercise for cardiac rehab. I've have been through it four times.

Question: What is coronary artery atherosclerosis, focal, severe?

Answer: Coronary artery atherosclerosis is the plaque, and debris in your blood that builds up against the artery walls. Sort of like the sludge that builds up in household pipes when a drain gets clogged. A focal lesion is a stenosis or narrowing of the artery. If it is focal it is usually tight symmetrically and occurs in only one spot in the artery. Like the tiny waist of a woman or like an hour glass at the smallest point. Unlike, what we call, a "ratty" lesion. This of course looks bad, uneven, long, and usually occurs all over the artery. Focal lesions can be severe (70% or tighter), or can be mild (less then 70%). I hope this helps.

Question: What is the difference between coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis?

Answer: Coronary artery disease involves impairment of blood flow through the coronary arteries, most commonly by atheromas. Clinical presentations include silent ischemia, angina pectoris, acute coronary syndromes (unstable angina, MI), and sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis is by symptoms, ECG, stress testing, and sometimes coronary angiography. Prevention consists of modifying reversible risk factors (eg, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking). Treatment includes drugs and procedures to reduce ischemia and restore or improve coronary blood flow. Atherosclerosis is patchy intimal plaques (atheromas) in medium-sized and large arteries; the plaques contain lipids, inflammatory cells, smooth muscle cells, and connective tissue. Risk factors include dyslipidemia, diabetes, cigarette smoking, family history, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and hypertension. Symptoms develop when growth or rupture of the plaque reduces or obstructs blood flow; symptoms vary by artery affected. Diagnosis is clinical and confirmed by angiography, ultrasonography, or other imaging tests. Treatment includes risk factor and dietary modification, physical activity, antiplatelet drugs, and antiatherogenic drugs.

Question: anyone have personal knowledge on coronary atherosclerosis/chronic coronary heart/artery disease? ICD 9 414.01 i was just diagnosed with this disease and am scared to say the least...i know i'm in for a long struggle with possible bypass surgery soon and i'm only 28 years old...if anyone knows any information about it or has it/knows someone who does, please share your knowledge with me..there's only so many internet articles i can read!

Answer: coronary atherosclerosis is when u have fat deposited in your arteries and therefore cause it to narrow and restrict smooth blood flow through them. it is very dangerous if the artery is more than 70% narrowed as it may face a complete occlusion and shuts down blood supply to your heart tissues, causing an acute heart attack. the severity is also judged by your risk factors (smoking, alcohol affects), family history, and how many vessels affected. we all have 3 main arteries, LAD (left anterior descending), RCA (right coronary artery), LCX (left circumflex, we call it circ in short). if any of these gets occluded more than 70%, it calls for an angioplasty. the worse scenario is when u get all of them with more or less 70% blockage. (we call it TVD, triple vessel disease) if you smoke, please stop soon. if you have an unhealthy diet, please, turn to greens soon. stop all that fish & chips, fried chicken and reeses, lays and ben&jerrys. they do u no good. if u are obese, try to shed some pounces healthily. do consult ur cardiologist if any medication like aspirin is needed. do take care.

Question: What is a condition where fatty deposits associated with atherosclerosis from within the coronary arteries?

Answer: CAD (Coronory artery disease) / ASHD(Arteriosclerotic heart disease) / Atherosclerotic heart disease/ Coronory arteriosclerosis. These conditions occurs when the inner walls of the arteries become more narrow due to a buildup of plaque, which consists of fats, cholesterol cellular waste products, calcium and other substances. Plaques can grow large enough to significantly reduce the blood's flow through an artery. But most of the damage occurs when they become fragile and rupture. Plaques that rupture cause blood clots to form. If this blood clot blocks a blood vessel that feeds the heart, it causes a heart attack. If it blocks a blood vessel that feeds the brain, it causes a stroke

Question: discuss the anatomy and physiology relating to the coronary arteries and atherosclerosis?

Answer: atherosclerotic plaque formation: excess LDL cholesterol is oxidized by free radicles & then taken up (phagocytosed) by macrophages (tissue monocytes) & transform into faom cells that start secreting substances promoting endothelial cell prolifration (endothelium = cells lining the inside of vesseles).. foam cells accumulate over injured endothelium and form "fatty streaks"..which progress into the atherosclerotic plaque..... anatomy...there is the left main coronary artery & the right coronary artery..all arising from the ascending aorta..just above the aortic valve...cardiac (heart) perfusion occures during diastole ( heart relaxarion) (not as the rest of the body..during systole ( heart contraction).. if u want further info on the coronary anatomy..just ask..

Question: atherosclerosis? now im not tt lazy as to ask u to answer this qn.. ;0 just that i wanna ask..Which of the following types of cells is the initial target in the pathogenesis of this arterial lesion?what does that mean.. i think the answer is endothelial cells..damage to it causes cascade of events leading to plaque formation.any websites to add on this or maybe u have it at the back of your head? if thats not the answer, then give your intake on this can? thanks!! A 50 year old man has a 2 year history of angina pectoris that occurs during exercise. On physical examination, his blood pressure is 135/75 mm Hg and his heart rate is 79/min and slightly irregular. Coronary angiography shows a fixed 75% narrowing of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery. Which of the following types of cells is the initial target in the pathogenesis of this arterial lesion? a. Monocytes b. Smooth muscle cells c. Platelets d. Neutrophils e. Endothelial cells

Answer: I would go with smooth muscle cells.

Question: How do the following Circulatory System Diseases affect the rest of the Circulatory System? 1. Atherosclerosis 2. Coronary Artery Disease 3. Aortic Insufficiency 4. Congestive Heart Failure 5. Valvular Stenosis

Answer: 1. Atherosclerosis Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. Healthy arteries are flexible, strong and elastic. Over time, however, too much pressure in your arteries can make the walls thick and stiff — sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues. This process is called arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. 2-Coronary Artery Disease Your coronary arteries are the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients. When these arteries become damaged or diseased — usually due to a buildup of fatty deposits called plaques — it's known as coronary artery disease. 3. Aortic Insufficiency Aortic valve regurgitation, also known as aortic insufficiency or aortic incompetence, is a condition that occurs when your heart's aortic valve doesn't close tightly. In this condition, some of the blood that was just pumped out of your heart leaks back into it. The leakage of blood may prevent your heart from efficiently pumping blood out to the rest of your body. If your heart isn't working efficiently, you may feel fatigued and short of breath. 4. Congestive Heart Failure Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), means your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Over time, conditions such as coronary artery disease or high blood pressure gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently. 5. Valvular Stenosis Pulmonary valve stenosis is a condition in which the flow of blood from your heart to your lungs is obstructed by a deformed pulmonary valve. The disorder is usually present at birth. Adults occasionally have pulmonary valve stenosis as a complication of another illness. Pulmonary valve stenosis ranges from mild and without symptoms to severe and debilitating, with most cases being mild. Mild pulmonary stenosis doesn't usually worsen over time, but moderate and severe cases may progress and require surgery. Fortunately, treatment is highly successful, and most people with pulmonary valve stenosis can expect to lead normal lives. Take care as always! OIRAM

Question: What is the prognosis for the following Circulatory System Diseases? 1. Atherosclerosis 2. Coronary Artery Disease 3. Aortic Insufficiency 4. Congestive Heart Failure 5. Valvular Stenosis

Answer: All of the conditions you listed have a wide variety of presentation, from mild to severe. For example, an 80 year old with mild #5 might have a better prognosis than a 60 year old with severe #5.

Question: If a person has surgery for carotid artery blockage, will they develop CAD need angiogram/plasti in future? A friend is having her carotid artery cleared. Does if follow that she will need to watch for coronary artery disease. Since the are both caused by "Atherosclerosis" why would one be affected and not the other?? Thanks

Answer: Biologically the carotid arteries and the coronary arteries are different. Coronaries are more susceptible to plaque build up and subsequently blockage since they are about 2-3 millimeter in diameter but carotid arteries are about 10 mm in diameter. There are no research studies, none that I know of, linking carotid artery calcification and hardening (atherosclerosis) with coronaries. I have been scanning coronary arteries for the past 17 years and haven't seen any direct correlation with carotid artery calcification. For the dear RN, the "osis" in the atherosclerosis is "condition of". Atherosclerosis is a disease, at least it is a condition that needs to be treated.