Cardiovascular Problems

Coronary artery disease involves the narrowing or obstruction of coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of lipid-containing plaque in the arteries.
It's a progressive disease that typically starts in childhood and manifests clinically in middle to late adulthood as Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS).
CAD leads to decreased perfusion of myocardial tissue and inadequate myocardial O_2 supply.
Significant CAD is indicated by a lumen diameter reduction of at least 50% in the left main artery or at least 75% in any major branch.
CAD can result in hypertension (HTN), angina, dysrhythmias, myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, and death.

Atherosclerosis is defined as the abnormal accumulation of lipids or fatty substances and fibrous tissue in the vessel walls.
It begins with damage or injury to the inner layer of an artery.
The accumulated substances create blockages or narrow the vessels, reducing blood flow to the myocardium.

Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive disease that can begin in childhood, though the exact cause is unknown.
Increasing age: Aged vessels show reduced medial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) number, increased collagen deposition, and fracture of the elastin lamellae, potentially leading to vessel dilation and increased lumen size.
High blood pressure: Sodium chloride (NaCl) and glucose (D-glucose) in blood synergistically raise both osmolarity of blood and core body temperature, resulting in atherosclerotic plaque formation.
High cholesterol: Cholesterol and other substances can form plaque deposits.
High triglycerides: A type of fat (lipid) in the blood.
Smoking and other sources of tobacco: Smokers have significantly higher serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (