Coronary artery disease occurs when coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits that are called plaques. The inner walls of the arteries contain a lot of plaques, which leads to the restriction of the blood flow to the heart since arteries have abnormal function and tone. A lack of oxygen and nutrients is a serious threat that can cause a heart attack. The common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and heart attack (Douglas et al., 2015). The first organ affected by coronary artery disease is the heart that is responsible for the entire blood flow provision. The lungs are the second affected organ since patients can have breathing problems and extreme fatigue. Also, the disease can impact the muscles of the whole body, causing pain in the arms, shoulders, jaw, and back.
The treatment of coronary artery disease begins after such diagnostic tests as an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood tests, coronary calcium scans, and stress tests (Douglas et al., 2015). The medicines that can be prescribed are metformin to manage plaque buildup, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers to normalize blood pressure, nitrates to prevent pain, and so on (Lindahl et al., 2017). Heart surgery may be needed in complicated cases, while doctors also encourage focusing on healthy lifestyles to reduce excessive weight, maintain physical activity, avoid stress, and heart-healthy eating. To control the disease, patients should constantly monitor their symptoms and visit their doctor for check-ups. In case of the coronary artery disease, science equips doctors with knowledge of body systems, namely, the role of the heart and arteries in blood pumping, which allows saving people’s lives. This is the participation in God’s redemptive work as science motivates doctors and guides them through diagnosing and treating to praise the faithfulness and power of the Creator.
References
Douglas, P. S., Hoffmann, U., Patel, M. R., Mark, D. B., Al-Khalidi, H. R., Cavanaugh, B., & Khan, M. A. (2015). Outcomes of anatomical versus functional testing for coronary artery disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(14), 1291-1300.
Lindahl, B., Baron, T., Erlinge, D., Hadziosmanovic, N., Nordenskjöld, A., Gard, A., & Jernberg, T. (2017). Medical therapy for secondary prevention and long-term outcome in patients with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary artery disease. Circulation, 135(16), 1481-1489.