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Coronary Artery Disease

Image on left shows how atherosclerosis impedes blood flow through coronary arteries while blood clots block blood flow. Courtesy Google.
Figure on right shows how atherosclerosis impedes blood flow through coronary arteries while blood clots block blood flow. Courtesy Google.

What Is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?

Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called ischemic heart disease, is a gradual narrowing of medium and large arteries of the heart by fatty buildups, called atherosclerotic plaques.

It is characterized by slowly developing interference with blood flow to heart tissue itself, resulting in oppressive chest pain called angina and, ultimately, thrombosis (clot) causing heart attack.  

The heart is a muscular organ that is working all the time, so it needs a constant supply of oxygen. Oxygen is brought to the working heart tissue by the coronary arteries with each beat of the heart. When heart muscle has to work harder, it needs more oxygen delivered to itself. Lack of oxygen causes pain.

In fact, failure of diseased coronary arteries to deliver adequate oxygen to heart tissue is the most common cause of angina pectoris – substernal pain (under breastbone) or pressure brought on by exertion and relieved by rest. 

Thrombosis, or clot formation, occurs when blood cells within a narrowed artery can no longer get through. Trapped, blood cells pile up and block the artery thus triggering a cascade of events called heart attack. Coronary arteries that are narrowed by atherosclerotic plaques can rupture causing injury to the coronary blood vessel resulting in blood clotting which blocks the flow of blood to the heart muscle. Blood clots may form, partially dissolve, and later form again and angina can occur each time a clot blocks blood flow in an artery.1

Q: How does coronary artery disease develop?

A: Coronary artery disease slowly develops from this combination of events:

  • Dysfunction of epithelial cells that line the inside of arteries cause the vessels to stiffen, and subsequently

  • Accumulation of lipid (fat) in smooth muscle cells beneath the inside lining of arteries and in foam cells cause buildup of fatty deposits on the inside walls progressing to fibrous plaque formation.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), so-called bad cholesterol, and oxysterols play important roles in the development of  atherosclerosis. OxLDL triggers the immune system to produce autoantibodies against oxLDL that are detectable in serum. These antibodies are called anti-oxLDL. Anti-oxLDL antibody and oxysterol concentrations are associated with coronary artery stenosis. Oxidative stress may be greatly increased in unstable angina.2 and Chronic inflammation in the general population is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease.

The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis is, clearly, different in women when compared to the men. The women have a higher risk of blood coagulability making them at high risk for the blood clot formation. In a large number of women endothelial dysfunction, small vessel size and diffuse atherosclerosis have been identified as causes of ischemia without evidence of blockade in the coronary arteries.3

Also, atherosclerotic plaque in women is less fibrotic and contains more lipid filled foam cells, implying greater potential for reversibility but also potentially greater vulnerability for plaque rupture and thrombosis.4

Who is Affected in the General Population?

  • Coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of death in developed countries despite significant progress in primary prevention and treatment strategies.

  • It is the leading cause of death in women, as well as an important cause of disability.

  • Older patients are at particularly high risk of poor outcomes following acute coronary syndrome.5

What Is Coronary Artery Disease In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, making cardiovascular risk assessments and potential interventions or treatments imperative for patients with celiac disease.6

Sources:
  1. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/SymptomsDiagnosisofHeartAttack/Unstable-Angina_UCM_437513_Article.jsp# [↩]
  2. Yasunobu Y, Hayashi K, Shingu T, Yamagata T, Kajiyama G, Kambe M. Coronary atherosclerosis and oxidative stress as reflected by autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein and oxysterosis. Atherosclerosis. Apr 2001;155(2):445-53. [↩]
  3. Kunadian V, Ford GA, Bawamia B, Qiu W, Manson JE. Vitamin D deficiency and coronary artery disease: A review of the evidence. Am Heart J. 2014 Mar;167(3):283-291. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2013.11.012. Epub 2013 Dec 19. [↩]
  4. Kunadian V, Ford GA, Bawamia B, Qiu W, Manson JE. Vitamin D deficiency and coronary artery disease: A review of the evidence. Am Heart J. 2014 Mar;167(3):283-291. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2013.11.012. Epub 2013 Dec 19. [↩]
  5. Kunadian V, Ford GA, Bawamia B, Qiu W, Manson JE. Vitamin D deficiency and coronary artery disease: A review of the evidence. Am Heart J. 2014 Mar;167(3):283-291. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2013.11.012. [↩]
  6. Robinson BL, Davis SC, Vess J, Lebel, J. Primary care management of celiac disease. Nurse Practitioner. February 2015: Vol 40 – Issue 2; 28–34. [↩]

Fresh Spring Rolls w/ Thai Sweet Red Chili Sauce

I remember those extremely busy days for my husband and I back between 2010 and 2011. I mean, don’t get me wrong, we are always busy, but I mean at that time we were just so busy that sometimes we couldn’t fathom the thought of cooking.

Yes, those type days exist, even for gluten free vegans…

Alternative Baking Company Gluten Free Cookies

Inaugural Gluten-Free Food Update 2014

Alternative Baking Company Gluten Free Cookies
Alternative Baking Company Gluten Free Cookies

This product update is long overdue and it is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to new gluten-free product launches in 2014. Expo West is just a few weeks away and I can’t wait to be overwhelmed by gluten-free products. Gluten free is slated once again to be one of the top diet trends in 2014 and that means more gluten-free products are being developed. Hopefully, these new products will trend towards health food and won’t be loaded with fillers, sugar, salt, and artificial color/flavors.

Here is the first new-to-me gluten-free products installment of 2014:

Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease Can Affect Any Body Organ or Tissue .
Celiac Disease Can Affect Any Body Organ or Tissue. Click To Enlarge Any Area.

What Is Celiac Disease?

Celiac Disease is a common health disorder affecting more people than breast cancer or Type 1 diabetes mellitus, but is greatly underdiagnosed.1

One person in a hundred is estimated to have celiac disease, but less than 5% of these people are being diagnosed.  The other 95% are being harmed on a daily basis by eating common food like bread and pizza.

Celiac Disease is serious and the personal cost can be great.  If left untreated, Celiac Disease can cause health problems ranging from inconvenience to debilitation and even death. It can affect work and relationships. The good news is that many health problems can be avoided by early diagnosis and eating a gluten-free diet.

To date, gluten is the only known environmental factor to play a direct causal role in celiac disease, and the only treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet.2

The Name: Celiac Disease

“Celiac Disease” was the name given to this disorder because it was thought to primarily cause digestive symptoms. “Celiac” means bowel. Other names for celiac disease are Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy, Celiac-Sprue, and Non-Tropical Sprue.

The term, Celiac Disease, is used worldwide. Medical coding systems use it for billing purposes and as a tracking tool. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM) code for Celiac Disease is “579.0 celiac disease.” This is the code your doctor will use for your medical records.

Celiac Disease Explained 

Celiac Disease is a common, inherited lifelong sensitivity to gluten, a protein in the grains of wheat, barley, rye, and oats.  When the immune system is activated by gluten, the inherited predisposition becomes a digestive disorder that results in malabsorption of food nutrients with or without digestive symptoms like pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.

Active Celiac Disease involves a specific auto-immune response in the small intestine that inflames and damages the vital tissues of the lining.  Resulting health problems are called multi-systemic because they may involve any body system. Symptoms may be few and mild or mind boggling in number and severity.       

Characteristics Of Celiac Disease: 

Sources:
  1. National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement, Celiac Disease, August 9, 2004;1-14. [↩]
  2. Pozo-Rubio T, Olivares M, Nova E, De Palma G, Mujico JR, Ferrer MD, Marcos A, Sanz Y. Immune development and intestinal microbiota in celiac disease. Clin Dev Immunol. 2012;2012:654143. Epub 2012 Sep 11. [↩]

Gluten-Free Cooking for Kids – Plan Ahead and Keep it Simple – Tips for Cooking for Gluten-Free Kids

Photo by David Shankbone
Photo by David Shankbone

Cooking for children on gluten-free diets requires special planning and care to ensure that they are getting all the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Replacing gluten-filled junk food with gluten-free junk food of course, isn’t good for kids.

Research shows that children with celiac disease are at higher risk for nutritional deficiencies. A variety of nutritious foods are vital to healthy growth and development.

Plan Ahead When Cooking for Gluten-Free Kids

Explain to your child what foods are safe for them to eat and what foods contain gluten and are off-limits. The depth of this discussion will depend on the age of your child- use visual aids if you need to in order to help your child understand the concept of safe and unsafe foods.

Girl Scouts Introduces New Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie

gluten free girl scout cookie

Girl Scout Cookies…

For decades, the Girl Scouts of America has maintained a tradition of selling cookies as their annual fundraising drive. For a few months during the year, Girl Scouts across the country can be found manning tables in front of churches, supermarkets and town halls, surrounded by boxes of wonderful cookies.

Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs. Do-di-dos, Lemonades and…Thin Mints…

So delicious. *Happy face*

So full of gluten. *Sad face*

Well, the Girl Scouts have turned that frown upside down by introducing their first gluten-free Girl Scout Cookie. And it’s

My 14 tips for a HEALTHY 2014!

Can you believe 2014 is already upon us?! It’s crazy how fast time flies.
Each year since going gluten-free I’ve learned more and more about how to live a healthier life…and I wanted to share what I’ve learned this year with you! Here are my 14 tips for your healthiest year yet:
 
happy new year gluten free
 
 
1. Eat RAW veggies – EVERY DAY!
gluten free veggies
Raw vegetables are full of digestive enzymes, nutrients, and fiber our body needs to function at it’s best. Eat them daily and you’ll definitely reap the benefits. 

Gluten-Free Holiday Survival Guide

Healthy-Holiday-Survival-Guide

Despite the snow covered trees, glittering lights, smoke from the chimneys and the overall sense of Holiday spirit that store fronts and houses display, for people living gluten-free there is usually a little bit of gluten-free gloom that hangs over the Holiday season. Don’t get me wrong, we are far from gluten-free grinches, but we cannot deny the nagging sense of anxiety that takes over when considering all of the ways that gluten can complicate even the simplest of Holiday celebrations. Your work may host a Holiday party, you may be staying with extended family members during the Holiday season, there may be a slew of dinner party invitations in your inboxes (or mailboxes if you are classic like that). Don’t let the Holidays overwhelm you! This Gluten-Free Holiday Survival Guide should help make the Holiday season gluten-free and stress-free.