High blood pressure as a cause of coronary heart disease
High blood pressure is another major risk factor for the development of arteriosclerosis and thus for the development of coronary heart disease. One speaks of arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) starting from a chronic increased blood pressure of over 140/90 mmHg. The number of people who die from coronary heart disease increases almost linearly with the increase in blood pressure. Thus, 10 out of 10,000 people with normal blood pressure values die of coronary heart disease compared to 60 out of 10,000 people with chronic blood pressure values above 180 mmHg. High blood pressure is considered the most common risk factor for coronary heart disease and therefore needs to be detected and treated urgently.
Diabetes mellitus as a cause of coronary heart disease
Diabetes mellitus is also an important risk factor for arteriosclerosis.Diabetes mellitus that has not been stopped for many years usually leads to pathological changes in the large and small blood vessels. Coronary heart disease is an example of the changes in large blood vessels. Calcifications and deposits occur inside the blood vessels. This leads to increasing circulatory problems. In diabetes, sugar control is a decisive criterion for avoiding secondary damage such as coronary heart disease as much as possible.
Smoking as a cause of coronary heart disease
Smoking, like high blood pressure, increased blood lipid levels and diabetes mellitus, is one of the most significant risk factors for the development of arteriosclerosis, which in turn can lead to coronary heart disease. The contents materials of the cigarette smoke favor the Plaquebildung. People who smoke have a two to five times higher risk of dying of a heart attack due to coronary heart disease than non-smokers.
Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of cardiac complications, such as heart attack, by up to 50% if the person already has coronary artery disease. Patients who already suffer from coronary artery disease are strongly recommended to quit smoking completely. However, to prevent the development of coronary heart disease, young healthy people should also give up smoking as completely as possible.
