Coronary Artery Disease and Aspirin

A person’s risk of developing coronary artery disease is influenced by several non-modifiable factors such as family history, age and gender. However, other factors that increase the risk for coronary artery disease can be modified by taking measures to change lifestyle.

Some of the life style factors that raise the risk of coronary artery disease include smoking, alcoholism, obesity, a diet high in saturated fats and low in fibre, a sedentary lifestyle and a lack of exercise.

In coronary artery disease, fatty deposits called plaques start to form in the walls of the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscles with nutrients and oxygen. This is called atheromatosis, an inflammatory arterial change that leads to dysfunction of the endothelium and the deposition of lipids or fats in the artery walls.

The formation of atheromatous plaques often begins with the endothelium becoming damaged due to factors such as high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, toxins form cigarettes, and other factors. Once an area is damaged, platelets, fats and cellular debris start to accumulate, the presence of which can stimulate the arterial cells to produce other substances that, in turn, attractsmore cells. These accumulating substances start to form a plaque at the site of damaged endothelium. This plaque thickens the endothelial wall and narrows the space for blood to flow through, which reduces the oxygen supply to the heart muscles.

Aspirin is a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to relieve pain and fever and to ease inflammatory reactions. Regular use of low dose aspirin (75mg) has been shown to have a protective effect on the heart, reducing the risk of death form cardiovascular disease and of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke. At this dose, aspirin has an anti-platelet action, preventing platelets from aggregating and forming plaques.

As per the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, regular use of aspirin at low dose can help prevent the complications of coronary artery disease. Clinical practitioners are recommended to prescribe low dose aspirin to be taken daily, especially in adults who are at increased risk for coronary artery disease.

Examples of high risk individuals include:

  • Men older than 40 years
  • Postmenopausal women
  • Younger people with other risk factors such as diabetics, smokers and those with high blood pressure or a previous history of a heart attack

Further Reading

Last Updated: Feb 26, 2019

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2019, February 26). Coronary Artery Disease and Aspirin. News-Medical. Retrieved on January 02, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Coronary-Artery-Disease-and-Aspirin.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "Coronary Artery Disease and Aspirin". News-Medical. 02 January 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/Coronary-Artery-Disease-and-Aspirin.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "Coronary Artery Disease and Aspirin". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Coronary-Artery-Disease-and-Aspirin.aspx. (accessed January 02, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2019. Coronary Artery Disease and Aspirin. News-Medical, viewed 02 January 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Coronary-Artery-Disease-and-Aspirin.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post
You might also like...
Heart attack patients without traditional risk factors have high levels of coronary calcium, study finds