Coronary Artery Disease
Gabrielle Jackson
HS200-02
Unit 2 Capstone Project: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Kaplan University
February 9, 2013

Coronary Artery Disease Diseases of the heart are not only very serious, but they are common, and can lead to other heart disease and permanent heart damage or death. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a heart disease that progresses over time. The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart. When these arteries are built up with plaque, made up of cholesterol, narrowing and hardening of the arteries may occur. Narrowing and hardening of the inner walls of the arteries causes a block of blood flow to the heart, resulting in coronary artery disease. Due to the lack of blood supply the heart is receiving, CAD can cause the heart muscle to become weak. Normal, healthy coronary blood flow is most important in reducing the risk of contracting coronary artery disease. The coronary arteries are vital to the function of the heart because restriction of blood flow to the heart interrupts and affects circulation. In healthy coronary arteries, oxygen-rich blood is the end supply of blood to the heart in circulation. Coronary artery disease alters normal physiology of the coronary arteries and the heart muscle. Essentially, the coronary blood flow is restricted because of the arteries’ diameter (Cardiol, 2010). When these arteries are compromised by being built up and blocked with multiple substances, the heart is affected because oxygen and blood cannot reach the heart muscle as it should. As stated above, heart disease is not only very serious, but also common. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease (NLM, 2013). Coronary artery disease, leading to coronary heart disease or other heart damage, is so common that every minute someone in the United States dies from it. The incidence and prevalence of this disease varies by age. “In 2010, the prevalence of CHD was greatest among persons aged ≥65 years (19.8%), followed by those aged 45--64 years (7.1%) and those aged 18--44 years (1.2%).” (CDC, 2011). The incidence and prevalence of coronary artery disease only seems to increase. It is estimated that 16,300,000 people or 7% of American adults 20 years of age and older have CHD. Out of the total population of people diagnosed with CHD, 8.3% are males and 6.1% are females. It is predicted that by 2030 another 8,000,000 American adults could be diagnosed with CHD, representing a 16.6% increase in its prevalence from 2010.” (Roger et al., 2011). The incidence of coronary artery disease is how many new and reoccurring cases of this disease are. “In 2011 approximately 785,000 American adults will have a new coronary attack, while 470,000 American adults will experience a recurrent heart attack. It is estimated that the annual incidence of new cases of coronary attack is 610,000, with 325,000 recurrent attacks.