The American Heart Association has estimated that in 2006, 81,100,000 U.S. citizens had cardiovascular disease. Perhaps even more shocking is the fact that during that year, heart disease accounted for slightly over one out of every three deaths. Clearly, heart disease is having a disastrous impact on the health of Americans; however, understanding the physiological processes that underlie it can help people to be more knowledgeable about the course of, and even more importantly the prevention of, cardiovascular disease.
The Physiological Role of Saturated Fats and Cholesterol in Heart Disease
Cholesterols and saturated fats both play a role in heart disease. Saturated fats, which are found in animal-based products, such as meats, are saturated with hydrogen, which can lead to the production of LDL cholesterol. Once LDL cholesterol is produced, it can be used on the cell membranes in the body.
However, once the cells have enough LDL cholesterol, they down regulate, creating fewer LDL receptors. This process, referred to as hypercholesterolemia, leaves too much cholesterol in the vascular system, leading to blockage that can result in heart disease.
The Physiological Process of Heart Disease
Once the arteries are blocked, an individual will suffer from a condition called atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of yellow plaque in the arteries. As a result of the blockage from plaque, the heart receives less oxygen. This process, called ischemia, leads to a lack of oxygen.
When the heart does not receive adequate oxygen, an individual will feel a pain, called angina. Eventually, a myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, can occur. The consequence of a heart attack is necrosis, or the death of cells in the heart muscle.
Fixing the Problem of Heart Disease
Once heart disease has become an issue, patients have several options available to them. They may benefit from angioplasty, which is the insertion of a balloon in the femoral artery in the leg. The balloon is inflated at the blockage site to disperse plaque build-up.
While angioplasty is an option sometimes utilized, the insertion of a stent is a better long-term solution. A stent is a wire used to hold the lumen of the blood vessel opened, to prevent complete blockage.
Perhaps the best option, though, is for patients to undergo a coronary artery bypass graft, which serves to bypass the blockage. This invasive surgery takes the great saphenous vein from the leg and uses it in the bypass. Though painful, the process is typically successful, as the saphenous vein can last roughly ten years in a bypass.
Though these several remedies are available, prevention is indubitably the best method. Engaging in regular physical activity can prevent heart disease, as it is shown to raise levels of HDL cholesterol, which is considered healthy cholesterol. Avoiding the consumption of excess amounts of animal fats can lower levels of LDL cholesterol, also serving to prevent heart disease. Once LDL levels are lowered, the body is likely to increase numbers of LDL receptors on cell membranes, ensuring that LDL cholesterol is taken out of the vascular system, instead of remaining in the blood and causing blockage.
Sources:
Americanheart.org, "Cardiovascular Disease Statistics," (accessed June 10, 2010).
Widmaier, E., Raff, H., & Strang, K. (2008). Vander's Human Physiology (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill Publishers.
Jennifer Long - Jennifer Long holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the Ohio State University and has completed research projects in the field.
