Atherosclerosis is the main driver of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is an intermittent form of atherosclerosis that manifests as unstable angina, myocardial infarction (MI), or cardiogenic shock (Malakar et al., 2019). Considering these risk variables, I chose to speak about my mother. Although she has not established atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease (CAD), avoidable factors can and cannot be addressed concerning the continued development of CAD. Risk variables are not adjustable or unmanageable and include the client’s age, sexual preference, racial background, and genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease (Malakar et al., 2019). A background of coronary artery disease in a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, is a significant predictor (Malakar et al., 2019). Fortunately, my mother, a 54-year-old Caucasian female, has no genetic history of coronary artery disease. Gender is yet another unmodifiable element that contributes to the development of CAD. Men of all ages are at a greater risk of coronary artery disease than women (Malakar et al., 2019). Nonetheless, as individual ages, the likelihood of coronary artery disease develops.
Threat factors of CAD are controllable and can be mitigated. These include personal lifestyle decisions such as smoking, lethargy, overweight and psychological characteristics (Malakar et al., 2019). My mother smoked tobacco for more than two decades, and as such, cigarette smoking is a significant predisposing factor for the growth of coronary artery disease (Malakar et al., 2019). Smoking can help prevent coronary artery disease (Malakar et al., 2019). After a lengthy period of abstinence, a patient’s risk of developing CAD appears comparable to someone who has never smoked. Fortunately, my mother did quit smoking approximately three years ago. Sedentary behavior is also a significant risk factor for heart disease (Malakar et al., 2019). After my mother retired, she became quite sluggish, and laziness was her order of the day. Exercising regularly is critical for preventing CAD since it produces positive alterations in blood pressure, blood triglyceride levels, and coagulation factors. Therefore, I suggest that my classmates avoid exposing themselves to risk factors like smoking and regular exercise to keep themselves active.
References
Malakar, A. K., Choudhury, D., Halder, B., Paul, P., Uddin, A., & Chakraborty, S. (2019). A review on coronary artery disease, its risk factors, and therapeutics. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 234(10), 16812-16823. Web.