Much too much Cholesterol-rich Western diets have led to an increased incidence of coronary heart disease. And one of the major contributing factors to the disease is elevated cholesterol, which culminates in atherosclerosis. As CHD is one of the Health of the Nation s key areas, all healthcare professionals are therefore implicated in helping reduce incidence of this disease.
Community pharmacists have their role, but an understanding of the process is required.
Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is the slow, progressive formation of atheromas within the blood vessel wall which results in narrowing of the lumen. Atheromas, which appear as yellow fatty plaques, consist of cholesterol and other lipids surrounded by muscle cells and fibrous tissue. The atheroma takes place slowly over many years. Sudden thrombosis at the site of an atheromatous plaque is responsible for the acute presentations of ischaemic heart disease, including unstable angina, myocardial infarction and sudden death. There is no one cause of coronary atheroma.