coronary artery disease
Cordis Admin Blog

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Causes, Symptoms, Risks, and Prevention

Coronary artery disease is one of the most common heart conditions worldwide. It occurs when the coronary arteries, which supply blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the heart muscle, become narrowed or blocked. This usually happens due to cholesterol buildup (plaques) and inflammation inside the arteries.

When blood flow to the heart is reduced, it can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. A complete blockage can result in a heart attack. Coronary artery disease often develops slowly over many years and may not show clear symptoms until the condition becomes serious.

Coronary artery disease is also known as coronary heart disease (CHD).

Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease

In the early stages, symptoms may not be noticeable. They often appear when the heart works harder, such as during physical activity or emotional stress.

Common symptoms include:

Chest Pain (Angina)

  • Pressure, tightness, or heaviness in the chest
  • Often felt in the center or left side of the chest
  • Can spread to the arm, neck, jaw, back, or shoulder
  • Usually triggered by activity or stress and eases with rest

Women may experience sharp or brief pain rather than pressure.

Shortness of Breath

  • Feeling breathless during routine activity or exercise

Fatigue

  • Ongoing tiredness due to reduced blood flow to the heart

Heart Attack

A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery becomes fully blocked.

Typical signs include:

  • Severe chest pain or pressure
  • Pain in the arm or shoulder
  • Sweating
  • Shortness of breath

In women, symptoms may include nausea, jaw pain, neck pain, or extreme fatigue. Some heart attacks may occur without obvious warning signs.

When to See a Doctor

If you suspect a heart attack, seek emergency medical help immediately.

You should also consult a doctor if you have risk factors such as:

  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Family history of heart disease

Early testing can help detect narrowed arteries before serious complications develop.

Causes of Coronary Artery Disease

The main cause is atherosclerosis, a condition where fats, cholesterol, and other substances build up on artery walls, forming plaques.

These plaques:

  • Narrow the arteries
  • Reduce blood flow
  • May rupture and form blood clots

Other causes of artery damage include:

  • Diabetes or insulin resistance
  • High blood pressure
  • Smoking
  • Physical inactivity

Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease

Several factors increase the chance of developing CAD.

Common risk factors:

  • Increasing age
  • Male sex (risk rises in women after menopause)
  • Family history of early heart disease
  • Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
  • High blood pressure
  • High LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol
  • Diabetes
  • Overweight or obesity
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Chronic stress
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Excess alcohol intake
  • Poor sleep patterns

Additional risk factors:

  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • High triglycerides
  • Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP)
  • High homocysteine levels
  • Pregnancy-related conditions such as preeclampsia
  • Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus

Risk factors often occur together, increasing overall heart risk.

Complications of Coronary Artery Disease

If left untreated, coronary artery disease can lead to:

  • Angina: Chest pain during activity
  • Heart attack: Due to blocked blood flow
  • Heart failure: Weakened or stiff heart muscle
  • Arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms

How to Reduce the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

Eat a Healthy Diet

  • Focus on fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds
  • Avoid non-vegetarian foods and dairy products
  • Limit salt intake to less than 5g per day
  • Avoid saturated fats found in:
    • Butter, ghee, cream, cheese
    • Processed meats
    • Cakes, biscuits
    • Foods with coconut or palm oil

Choose Healthy Fats

Include unsaturated fats such as:

  • Olive, sunflower, and vegetable oils
  • Avocados
  • Nuts and seeds

Stay Physically Active

  • Aim for regular aerobic exercise like walking, swimming, or cycling
  • Exercise helps control weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol
  • A stronger heart pumps blood more efficiently

Maintain a Healthy Weight

  • Keep BMI below 25 kg/m²
  • Weight control lowers the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure

Quit Smoking

  • Smoking greatly increases artery damage
  • Quitting reduces heart disease risk at any age
  • Support programs and nicotine replacement can improve success rates

Limit Alcohol Intake

  • Do not exceed 14 units per week
  • Avoid binge drinking
  • Spread alcohol intake across several days

Manage Blood Pressure

  • Target blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg
  • If diabetic, aim for 130/80 mmHg
  • Regular monitoring is important

Control Diabetes

  • Maintain healthy blood sugar levels
  • Stay active and manage weight
  • Follow medical advice consistently

Take Prescribed Medication

If diagnosed with coronary artery disease or related conditions:

  • Take medications exactly as prescribed
  • Do not stop medication without medical advice
  • Proper treatment helps prevent complications

Final

Coronary artery disease develops gradually, but early lifestyle changes and medical care can lower risk and improve heart health. Regular checkups, healthy habits, and timely treatment play a major role in prevention and long-term care.

healthy heart tips
Cordis Admin Blog, Daily Health Tips

10 Essential Tips for a Healthy Heart

To live life fully, taking care of your heart should be a top priority. Your heart plays a central role in overall health by pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout the body and removing waste products. A healthy heart supports every organ, muscle, and system in your body.

The good news is that most heart problems can be prevented with simple lifestyle changes. By following these healthy heart tips, you can lower your risk of heart disease and improve long-term wellbeing.

1. Stay Physically Active

Lack of physical activity increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Regular movement keeps your heart strong and improves blood circulation. Activities such as brisk walking, cycling, swimming, yoga, or gym workouts are excellent for heart health. Aim for at least 40–50 minutes of physical activity daily.

2. Follow Heart-Healthy Eating Habits

A balanced diet plays a major role in maintaining a healthy heart. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, and plant-based foods. Reduce salt intake and choose healthy protein sources. Avoid refined sugar, refined flour, fried foods, fast food, and highly processed items.

3. Limit Alcohol Consumption

Excess alcohol intake can raise blood pressure, increase weight, and raise the risk of heart rhythm issues, heart failure, and stroke. If possible, avoid alcohol or keep consumption minimal to protect your heart.

4. Quit Smoking

Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart disease. Nicotine narrows blood vessels, increases blood pressure, and reduces oxygen supply to the heart. Quitting smoking significantly lowers the risk of heart attack and improves overall health.

5. Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and circulation problems. A combination of regular exercise, balanced meals, and adequate hydration helps maintain a healthy weight and supports heart function.

6. Keep Blood Pressure Under Control

High blood pressure often has no symptoms but can seriously damage the heart over time. Regular blood pressure checks and proper treatment for hypertension help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

7. Control Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetes and high blood sugar damage blood vessels and raise the risk of heart disease. Managing blood sugar through diet, physical activity, and medication when needed is essential for heart protection.

8. Manage Cholesterol Levels

High cholesterol increases the chance of blocked arteries and heart attack. Eat foods rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, stay active, and reduce intake of saturated and trans fats. Limiting non-vegetarian and processed foods also helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

9. Reduce Stress

Ongoing stress affects both mental and heart health. Stress management through yoga, meditation, physical activity, proper hydration, and balanced meals helps maintain emotional balance and supports heart health.

10. Get Quality Sleep

Poor sleep increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Adults should aim for 6–8 hours of quality sleep each night. Good sleep supports hormone balance, lowers stress, and keeps the heart functioning properly.

Why Regular Heart Checkups Matter

Early heart disease often shows few or no symptoms. Regular screening and timely checkups help detect problems before they become serious, especially during middle age or if you have risk factors like diabetes or high blood pressure.

Book a Free Heart Health Checkup

📞 Call Us: +91 8369439101

📧 Mail: cordisheartinstitute@gmail.com

🌐 Visit Our Website: www.cordisheartinstitute.com

Taking small steps today can help protect your heart for years to come.

plant-based whole food diet
Cordis Admin Blog

The Plant-Based Whole Food Diet: Your Heart’s Best Friend

In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, processed foods and poor eating habits have become common. As a result, heart disease continues to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The good news is that heart health can be improved through smarter food choices. One approach that has gained strong attention for cardiovascular care is the Plant-Based Whole Food (PBWF) diet.

This blog explains what the PBWF diet is, how it supports heart health, and how you can adopt it in a practical way.

What Is the Plant-Based Whole Food (PBWF) Diet?

The Plant-Based Whole Food diet focuses on eating foods that come directly from plants, with minimal processing. It encourages a daily intake of:

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Whole grains
  • Legumes like beans and lentils
  • Nuts and seeds

At the same time, it reduces or avoids animal-based foods and heavily processed items. Rather than being a short-term trend, the PBWF diet is a long-term eating pattern built around natural, nutrient-rich foods that support overall heart health.

How the PBWF Diet Supports Heart Health

Lowering Cholesterol Levels

High LDL cholesterol is a major contributor to heart disease. A plant-based whole food diet is naturally low in saturated fat and high in fiber, which helps reduce LDL cholesterol levels. Foods such as oats, barley, lentils, and beans support healthy arteries and reduce plaque buildup.

Managing Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is another common heart risk factor. PBWF foods are rich in potassium and low in sodium, which helps balance blood pressure levels. Bananas, spinach, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens support healthy blood flow and vessel function.

Supporting Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy body weight plays an important role in heart care. The PBWF diet contains foods that are filling yet lower in calories. High fiber intake helps control appetite, making weight management easier without strict calorie counting.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects on the Heart

Long-term inflammation can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease. A plant-based whole food diet includes antioxidants and natural compounds that help reduce inflammation. Foods such as berries, broccoli, kale, and colorful vegetables help protect blood vessels and support long-term heart function.

Key Heart-Friendly Nutrients in a PBWF Diet

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fats help reduce irregular heart rhythms and support healthy triglyceride levels. Plant-based sources include:

  • Flaxseeds
  • Chia seeds
  • Walnuts

These options provide heart-supporting fats without relying on fish or animal products.

Dietary Fiber

Fiber supports heart health by lowering cholesterol, supporting digestion, and improving blood sugar control. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes are excellent fiber sources and form the base of a PBWF diet.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants help protect blood vessels from damage caused by free radicals. Blueberries, dark leafy greens, nuts, and seeds are rich sources that support long-term cardiovascular wellness.

Foods Limited or Avoided in a PBWF Diet

Animal-Based Foods

  • Red meat and poultry
  • Dairy products like milk, cheese, and butter
  • Eggs
  • Fish and seafood

Highly Processed Foods

  • Fast food and fried foods
  • Packaged snacks and bakery items
  • Sugary cereals and desserts
  • Processed vegan foods with additives

Refined and Added Ingredients

  • White bread and white rice
  • Added sugars and artificial sweeteners
  • Excess salt
  • Refined cooking oils (used minimally or avoided)

The level of restriction may vary from person to person, but the main focus remains on whole, unprocessed plant foods.

Practical Tips to Start a PBWF Diet

  • Start gradually: Add more plant-based meals each week instead of changing everything at once
  • Try new foods: Experiment with grains, legumes, vegetables, and plant-based recipes
  • Balance your plate: Include plant protein, healthy fats, and a variety of vegetables
  • Read food labels: Avoid hidden sugars, oils, and additives
  • Get support: Join online groups or involve family members for motivation

Conclusion

The Plant-Based Whole Food diet is a strong dietary approach for improving heart health and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. By focusing on natural plant foods and limiting processed and animal-based products, you support healthy cholesterol levels, blood pressure control, weight balance, and reduced inflammation.

Adopting a PBWF diet is not about restriction. It’s about choosing foods that support long-term heart care and overall well-being. With consistent effort, your heart benefits today and in the years ahead.

risk of heart disease
Cordis Admin Blog

Are You at the Risk of Developing Heart Disease?

Heart attack, angioplasty and bypass surgery have become very common today. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death across the world, and India is now considered the world capital of heart disease.

While several treatment options exist, they can be risky, painful and expensive. More importantly, the results don’t always match expectations. This is why it makes more sense to focus on prevention before it’s too late.

You can check your risk of heart disease early and take steps to protect yourself. Understanding what increases your risk of heart disease helps you take the right action at the right time.

There are many factors that influence your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Some cannot be changed, such as increasing age. These are called non-modifiable risk factors.

On the other hand, several factors can be improved through lifestyle changes and proper medication. These are known as modifiable risk factors, and working on them can greatly lower your overall risk.

Non-Modifiable risk factors

Age: Aging increases the risk of heart disease but now a days many younger people are also getting heart attacks

Gender: Males are more prone to heart diseases compared to females until menopause, after menopause females are also at same risk as males.

Family history: If your parents or siblings have heart disease then it increases your risk also for heart disease

Modifiable risk factors

Diabetes: Diabetes has multiple complications including heart disease. If you have diabetes then try to keep it well controlled.

Hypertension: High blood pressure also is one of the major risk factors for heart disease and one must keep it under controlled.

Dyslipidemia: High level of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides increases the risk of developing blockage in arteries including the arteries of heart.

LDL: Increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) also known as bad cholesterol, can build-up fatty acid deposit in arteries causing the blockages. One should keep the level of LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dl

HDL: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) also known as good cholesterol.

HDL levels less than 40 mg/dl is also associated with increased risk for heart disease.

Triglycerides: Triglycerides are fats from the food we eat that are carried in the blood. High triglycerides combined with high cholesterol raise your risk of heart attack, strokes and pancreatitis. Keep your Triglyceride levels under 150 mg/dl

High sensitivity C – Reactive Protein (hsCRP): Even minor elevation in hsCRP level have shown to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk

Low risk: hsCRP less than 1mg/L

Best way to lower CRP is through exercise, weight loss and dietary control.

Obesity: Being overweight or having central obesity (big tummy) could also lead to heart disease

Keep your BMI (body mass index) between 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2 and According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a moderate WHR is: 0.9 or less in men and 0.85 or less for women

Smoking: Smoking and tobacco are major risk factors for Cardio vascular disease as tobacco causes hardening of blood vessels. Quit smoking and all types of tobacco consumptions.

Sedentary Lifestyle: Living an inactive life also could lead to the heart disease. Try to live an active life. Start walking daily for at least 30 to 45 minutes. 

Mental stress: In today’s fast life, stress has become the way of life and mental stress is a major cause of heart disease particularly in young generation. Try to manage your stress, practice yoga and meditation, cultivate few hobbies and spend some quality time with family and friends

Unhealthy diet: Fast life and fast food has become the culture for this generation leading to explosion of the heart disease. Avoid food with too much fat, sugar or refined flour. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits as they are rich in fibers, anti-oxidants and micro nutrients.

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