Resources
BOOKS
Lieberman, Shari and Nancy Bruning. ‘‘Copper.’’ InThe
Real Vitamin & Mineral Book: Using Supplements for
Optimum Health. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Pub-
lishing Group, 1997.
Passwater, Richard A.All About Antioxidants. Garden City
Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1998.
PERIODICALS
Gonzalez, M. J, et al. ‘‘Inhibition of Human Breast Carci-
noma Cell Proliferation by Ascorbate and Copper.’’
The Journal of Nutrition. 131, no. 11 (November 2001):
3142S.
Hunt, Janet R., and Richard A. Vanderpool. ‘‘Apparent
Copper Absorption from a Vegetarian Diet.’’American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 74, no. 6 (December 2001):
803–805.
Reginster, Jean-Yves, Anne Noel Taquet, and Christiane
Gosset. ‘‘Therapy for Osteoporosis: Miscellaneous and
Experimental Agents.’’Endocrinology and Metabolism
Clinics.(June 1998): 453–463.
Uauy, Ricardo, Manuel Olivarez, and Mauricio Gonzales.
‘‘Essentiality of Copper in Humans.’’American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition. 67 suppl (1998): 952S–959S.
OTHER
‘‘Copper’’The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy.
[cited October 2002].<http://www.merck.com>.
Rosenstein, Elliot D., and Jacques R. Caldwell. ‘‘Therapies:
Trace Elements in the Treatment of Rheumatic Condi-
tions.’’ InRheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America.
Part II. [cited May 2000].<http://www.mdconsult.com>.Coronary heart disease
Definition
Coronary heart disease is the narrowing or block-
age of the arteries and vessels that provide oxygen and
nutrients to the heart. It is caused by a condition called
atherosclerosis, which is the gradual buildup of fatty
materials on the arteries’ inner linings. The blockage
that results from the buildup restricts blood flow to the
heart. When the blood flow is completely cut off, a
heart attack can occur.Description
Coronary heart disease also may be called coro-
nary artery disease or simply heart disease. It is the
leading cause of death in the United States among men
and women.
When the heart works harder and needs more
oxygen, the coronary arteries expand. But buildup offatty materials, or plaque, from atherosclerosis causes
the arteries to harden and narrow. If the arteries are
unable to expand because of coronary artery disease,
the heart is deprived of oxygen. The heart muscle can’t
work properly without oxygen. The reduced blood
flow and oxygen supply may cause angina, which is
pain in the chest. It also may cause shortness of breath
or other symptoms. Complete blockage or clotting at
the site where the blood enters the heart can cause a
heart attack.
Coronary heart disease can worsen over time. The
heart muscles may weaken, even though no symptoms
may be evident. Eventually, this leads to heart failure.
In heart failure, the heart doesn’t suddenly stop, but
fails to pump blood to the body the way that it should.
Coronary heart disease also can lead to heart arrhyth-
mias, or changes in the normal rhythm of heartbeat.
These can be serious.Demographics
According to the AmericanHeart Association, cor-
onary heart disease caused more than 250,000 deaths in- But the number of deaths from the disease
declined 33% from 1994 to 2004. Although about
325,000 people a year die of coronary attacks in hospital
emergency departments without even being hospital-
ized, more than 15 million people in America live with
a history of heart attack, angina pectoris, or both. More
of these are males, but not by a wide margin. Black
males have a higher death rate per 100,000 than white
males, and men generally have a higher chance of dying
from coronary heart disease than women.
Causes and symptoms
Coronary heart disease is caused by atherosclero-
sis. Some risk factors for coronary heart disease can’t
be changed, such as inheriting a genetic risk for the
disease.Causes and risk factors
Age is a major risk factor for death from coronary
heart disease. Over 83% of people who die from cor-
onary heart disease are over age 65. Gender plays a
role too, since men have a higher risk of heart attacks.
Men tend to get heart disease earlier than women.
While mean are at higher risk for coronary heart dis-
ease by about age 45, women are at risk for heart
disease later in life, beginning at about age 55. People
whose parents had heart disease also are at higher risk
for coronary heart disease. Certain racial groups have
higher risk as well, often because of a greater tendency
towardobesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes.Coronary heart disease