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Medical Author:

Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Dr. Kulick received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at the Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center and a fellowship in the section of cardiology at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology.

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Medical Author:

Dennis Lee, MD

Dennis Lee, MD

Dr. Lee was born in Shanghai, China, and received his college and medical training in the United States. He is fluent in English and three Chinese dialects. He graduated with chemistry departmental honors from Harvey Mudd College. He was appointed president of AOA society at UCLA School of Medicine. He underwent internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship training at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Introduction
• What is atherosclerosis?
• What are coronary heart diseases (CHD)?
• What is angina pectoris?
• What is a heart attack?
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Heart failure
• What is cerebral vascular disease?
• Ischemic stroke
• Hemorrhagic stroke
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• When does the coronary atherosclerosis process begin?
• Have most people done enough to prevent atherosclerosis and heart attacks?
• What are the risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis and heart disease?
• How can coronary atherosclerosis and heart attacks be prevented?
• Find a local Cardiologist in your town
• Heart Attack and Atherosclerosis Prevention Index

Although the coronary arteries are wide open at birth, the atherosclerosis process begins early in life. Between the ages of 10 and 20, "fatty streaks" are already being deposited on the inner lining of the coronary arteries. Over the years, some of these fatty streaks grow into larger cholesterol plaques that can protrude into the artery lumen and harden the artery walls. Many men and women between the ages of 20 and 30 typically are unaware that their coronary arteries are gradually accumulating cholesterol plaques. But by ages 40 to 50, many people have developed enough atherosclerosis to put them at risk for coronary heart disease.

Atherosclerosis prevention should start early, preferably during childhood and adolescence. Most scientists believe that preventing atherosclerosis is more effective than trying to reverse established blockages or getting rid of plaques in the arteries. Therefore, children and adolescents should be taught lifetime habits of regular exercise, avoidance of smoking, and good nutrition. Unfortunately, many Americans have not taken adequate steps to prevent atherosclerosis. Reasons for this failure include:

• Lack of awareness that they already have coronary atherosclerosis, and ignorance that coronary atherosclerosis and heart attacks are preventable;
  
  
• Lack of awareness of their blood cholesterol levels and profiles;
  
  
• Unwillingness or inability to quit cigarette smoking;
  
  
• High blood pressure or diabetes mellitus that are either undiagnosed or inadequately controlled;
  
  
• Lack of exercise, an excess of fat and cholesterol in their diet, and an inability to lose excess weight; and
  
  
• Failure to take full advantage of medications that improve cholesterol profiles, usually out of fear of potential side effects.