Coronary heart disease facts for kids

Coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease, is a heart disease. It affects the blood vessels of your heart. These special blood vessels are called coronary arteries.

Normally, arteries are like tubes that carry blood full of oxygen and nutrients to different parts of your body. The coronary arteries are super important! They bring blood directly to your heart muscle.

With coronary heart disease, something called plaque builds up inside these coronary arteries. Plaque is a sticky, fatty material. When it builds up, it makes the arteries narrower. This means less blood can get to your heart muscle.

Many people with this disease feel healthy for years. But eventually, they might start to feel sick. The most common problem is a heart attack. If not treated, pieces of plaque can break off and block blood flow to the heart. This disease is a common cause of sudden death. It's also the most common cause of death for people over 65. Boys and men are more likely to get it than girls and women.

What is Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a type of heart disease. It happens when fatty stuff, like cholesterol, builds up in your arteries. This forms hard patches called plaques. These plaques make your arteries stiff and narrow.

When arteries get narrow, it's harder for blood to flow through them. This can cause blood clots to form. These clots can completely block the artery. Small pieces of plaque can also break off and block smaller blood vessels.

If an artery gets completely blocked, it causes serious problems. All your body's cells, tissues, and organs need oxygen and nutrients from blood to live. If they don't get enough blood, they start to die. This is called necrosis. When this happens in the coronary arteries, a part of your heart muscle dies. This is what causes a heart attack.

How to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease

There are many things you can do to help prevent coronary heart disease:

• Eat a healthy diet: Try to eat fewer fatty foods. Also, eat less saturated fats.
• Eat more good foods: Include lots of vegetables, fruits, legumes (like beans), and whole grains in your meals.
• Limit certain things: Try to avoid drinking alcohol and eat less salt.
• Exercise regularly: Being active helps keep your heart strong.
• Control your weight: Try to avoid becoming overweight or obese. Staying at a healthy weight is good for your heart.

Images for kids

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  Clogged artery

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  Micrograph of a coronary artery with atherosclerosis and marked narrowing.

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  Coronary angiogram of a man

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  Coronary angiogram of a woman

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  A friendly robot