Cardiovascular Disease: Coronary Heart Disease

As our world flourishes in technology and agriculture, we become more susceptible to developing heart problems

Since the 1900’s cardiovascular diseases have been a developing epidemic, (http://sln.fi.edu/biosci/history/history.html), and since that time, Coronary heart disease been a major factor contributing to the deaths of many Americans. It is important for one to be acquainted with the components which lead to coronary heart disease, the effects of technology on our lives, and the preventative measures that can be taken to lessen the risk of coronary heart problems.

Coronary heart disease is a cardiovascular heart disease which has been troubling Americans for many years

It occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart become narrow, and is short named as CHD. There are many symptoms which may be the cause to CHD, and there are certain factors that increase the risks of CHD (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Coronary heart disease.htm).

One of the most common symptom that an individual may experience as a sigh of CHD is angina

Angina are sudden chest pains which are caused because of blocked arteries which prevent the flow of blood containing oxygen to the heart. The intensity of the pain varies from person to person.

These pains are classified in two different categories: typical and atypical

Typical chest pains can be distinguished when an individual experiences pains under the breast bone. The other type, a typical, occurs in the left side of the chest, the back, or the arm. These pains are more prevalent in women than men (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Coronary heart disease.htm).

Here’s an example of an image that shows how cardiovascular disease occurs and helps us see how one health condition such as Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, or Hyperinsulinemia,  may lead to CVD (Cardiovascular heart disease).

(Derived from: “Environment Change and Cardiovascular Disease: A New complexity”)

At first, the symptoms of heart disease start with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or hyperinsulinemia

Hypertension is the elevation of blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia is high cholesterol in the blood, and hyperinsulinemia is an excessive amount of insulin in the blood. Second, is Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when a deposit of plaque on the inner lining of arterial walls is formed from fatty substances. Third, is Thrombosis, which is the “intravascular coagulation of the blood in any part of the circulatory system, as in the heart, arteries, veins, or capillaries” (Dictionary.com). And the last stage, which is the outcome, is CVD.

 After a person experiences Coronary heart disease, they will most likely develop Atherosclerosis at some point in their life

Atherosclerosis is yet another serious problem.  It occurs when fats and other substances are irregularly disposed in the inner wall of the arteries. This causes the narrowing of the blood vessels, for which any artery may be affected.

There are certain measures that a person can take to try to prevent the development of CHD

An individual can attain whether he or she has CHD by following certain guidelines and answering some questions. Before going to the doctor or cardiologist to find out weather a person has a certain type of CHD, they may need to ask themselves a series of questions:

• Has anyone in your family ever experienced any form of heart problems or heart disease?
• Do you smoke Tobacco?
• Are you obese?
• Do you have Diabetes?
• How are your cholesterol levels?
• Are you undergoing menopause?
• Are you levels of homocystein high?
• How often do you exercise?

Once these questions are answered you should comply with a doctor. These questions are a way to save your from getting a major heart attack, and even if what you are experiencing is not CHD, you should still see a doctor to prevent any other health conditions from developing (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Coronary heart disease.htm).

CHD has become a byproduct of the alternate shift in technology and agriculture that our society has experienced since the time of the industrial revolution

As the Franklyn Institute puts it, we are exposed to a higher risk of getting a heart disease due to advances in technology. It has a big influence on our life, the production of food, and our diets. Over the years, our lives underwent a major transformation, making us less active and affecting our physical activity level

Before the industrial revolution, most people made their living through some sort of manual labor

Walking as the primary means of transportation is not as popular today as it was back then. People use to take the stairs more often, “carpets were beat, and butter was churned” (http://sln.fi.edu /bio sci /history/history.html).

Most workers were replaced by machinery, or assisted by machinery

Because of modern conveniences physical activity has become unnecessary. Machines were built to homogenize mike, process cheese, and make ice-cream. Before, these foods were required to be made by hand. “The combination of a sedentary lifestyle and a rich diet led to an increase in clogged blood vessels, heart attacks, and strokes ” (http://sln.fi.edu /bio sci /history/history.html).

Westernization and modernization have led to the mass production of food and omnivorous diets

Between 1940 and 1967 the amount of people reporting with a certain heart disease increased. In the words of World Health Organization, this disease was called “The world’s most serious epidemic”(http://sln.fi.edu /bio sci /history/history.html).

The journal “Environment Change and Cardiovascular Disease: A New complexity,” by Tessa M. Pollard, emphasizes the issues of how our environment, due to modernization and westernization, contributes much to the development of Coronary Disease in people. For many years, cardiovascular diseases have been considered as a lifestyle disease. A lack of physical activity and a certain level of smoking, psychological stress, and obesity are some of the factors which usually present and identified in industrial societies. These risk factors are less prevalent in poorer and developing countries.

People living in technologically advanced societies have a higher chance in getting coronary heart disease

A chart that plays an important role in understanding how a developed or technologically advanced society has a higher chance in getting coronary or other cardiovascular heart disease is the pie chart below:                                                                                                                                                                           

(Derived from the journal source Environment Change and Cardiovascular Disease: A New complexity)                               

The pie charts resemble the differences among hunter-gatherers and people living in high-energy and urbanized societies. High-energy Societies take in more fat and sugar, while hunter-gathers consume more protein and starch. Fats and sugars may lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and the development of diabetes.

The changes in our lifestyle due to the growth of technology, agriculture, modernization and westernization, and the serious risks of obtaining a certain cardiovascular problem such as coronary heart disease, should promote people, agencies, corporations, and epically developed and westernized societies to take a step back and contemplate about the future of the health of their people. For a society’s maintenance and the well being of the people, it is essential for certain officials to make wise decisions, which are less likely concerning money, but the general health of the population. Westernization may succeed in finance, but it cannot buy health.

Reference: Pollard, Tessa. (1997). Environmental Change and Cardiovascular Disease: A New Complexity. Journal on Physical Anthropology,40, 1-24. Journal retrieved April 6, 2007, from the Wiley InterScience Database.;Zyrlax, Birgit. Windler, Eberhard. (2000). Dietary Fat In The Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease- a Review. Journal on Science And Technology, 2000, 355-356. Retrieved April 20, 2007 from the Wiley InterScience Database.