Coronary heart disease is one of the leading killers of Americans over 60, and as the boomer generation nears retirement, coronary heart disease looms before us as an oncoming public healthcare crisis. An understanding of a disease that will touch so many lives may lessen the number of victims it claims.

The narrowing of blood vessels leading to the heart which is characteristic of coronary heart disease is generally caused by a thickening and hardening of blood vessel walls. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, is the result of the accumulation of fatty material, calcium, and scar tissue in blood vessel walls. The process often occurs with no symptoms for decades, making coronary heart disease a feared silent killer. Unfortunately, by the time it progresses to a near-term threat, it may be difficult to slow down or reverse.

Many risk factors for this disease have been been identified. Examples include high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and stress. Simply being male increases the chances of coronary heart disease, as does age and being overweight. There is even a statistical correlation between coronary heart disease and socioeconomic status, as well as race, with poor people and some minorities, including African Americans and Mexican Americans, at greater risk. Voluntary behavior such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption (more than one drink per day for women or more than two drinks a day for men) are additional strong risk factors.

As the disease progresses, symptoms may begin to appear, including shortness of breath, chest pain (“angina”), and feelings of fatigue after exercising. Pain may also occur in areas besides the heart, such as the jaw, legs, arm, or upper back.

Advances in medical science have had a great effect on managing coronary heart disease. The symptoms of its appearance need not feel like the death sentence they used to. Modern drugs have been developed that attack contributing factors to heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high stress levels, kidney disease, and diabetes. Additionally, minimally invasive procedures such as balloon angioplasty have greatly reduced the pain and risks of surgery.

Nature’s versions of preventive medicine are also making great strides in preventing coronary heart disease. While cutting dietary cholesterol, losing weight, and taking moderate exercise have long been recommended, using olive oil and taking fish oil capsules are now routinely suggested by medical professionals as very low cost ways to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Naturally occurring substances in ordinary food are coming to the forefront of modern research as it begins shifting to a greater emphasis on prevention.

That change bodes well for the future. When coronary heart disease doesn’t strike, it won’t need to be cured.

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