1. The client/caregiver can define coronary artery disease.
   1. It is a progressive disease characterized by a narrowing or blockage of one or both of the coronary arteries, causing a decreased blood supply to the heart.
   2. The decreased blood supply creates a lack of oxygen and nutrients to the heart and can cause tissue damage.
   3. The disease develops slowly and may be very advanced before symptoms occur.
   4. The primary cause is atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty, fibrous plaque on the inner wall of the artery, causing it to become narrowed and hardened.
   5. Another cause is arteriosclerosis, produced by loss of elasticity of arteries.
2. The client/caregiver can list factors that may increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
   1. Controllable factors
      • Cigarette smoking
      • Elevated blood pressure
      • Stress
      • High-cholesterol diet
      • Obesity
      • Sedentary lifestyle
      • Diabetes mellitus
      • The use of estrogen oral contraceptives
   2. Noncontrollable factors
      • Age (risk increases with age)
      • Sex (incidence rate in men is three times that of women)
      • Race (incidence rate is higher in blacks than in whites)
      • Family history
3. The client/caregiver can list measures to prevent or manage coronary heart disease.
   1. Limit cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fat intake (diets related to cardiovascular disease).
   2. Take medication as prescribed.
   3. Establish an exercise program approved by a physician.
4. The client/caregiver can list possible complications of coronary heart disease.
   1. Myocardial infarction
   2. Angina pectoris
   3. Heart failure
   4. Dysrhythmias
   5. Cardiac arrest

Resources

American Heart Association
www.americanheart.org

National Institutes of Health
www.nih.gov

American Dietetic Association
www.eatright.org

National Cholesterol Education Program—National Institutes of Health
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/

CDC: Tobacco Information and Prevention Source (TIPS)
www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/index.htm

United States Department of Health and Human Resources:
Tobacco Cessation
www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/

References

Ackley, B. J., & Ladwig, G. B. (2006). Nursing diagnosis handbook: A guide to planning care. Philadelphia: Mosby Inc.
Cohen, B. J., & Wood, D. L. (2000). Memmler’s the Human Body in Health and Disease (9th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Nutrition made incredibly easy. (2003). Springhouse: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Portable RN: The all-in-one nursing reference. (2002). Springhouse: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Taylor, C., Lillis, D., & LeMone, P. (2005). Fundamentals of nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Timby, B. K., & Smith, N. C. (2003). Introductory medical-surgical nursing (8th ed.). Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins.

Credits

Client Teaching Guides for Home Health Care, 2nd ed.
© 2008 Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.
www.jbpub.com