HELP FATHER

The coronary arteries are small vessels `that fan out over the heart and feed it with blood, enabling the heart to pump an average of five litters of blood to the various organs around the body. When these arteries are damaged or constricted, the heart muscle becomes starved for blood, resulting in crippling chest pain, called angina, and lethal heart attacks.
Damage to these arteries can also occur when smokers inhale, releasing a cocktail of toxic chemicals that is absorbed into their blood. High blood pressure can cause damage as it forces the heart to work harder. A diet high in saturated fat, obesity and lack of exercise also puts you at risk.
Coronary heart disease is an insidious killer that takes years to develop, often striking with little warning. On average, CHD occurs at least 10 to 15 years earlier among Indians than among Westerners. Unlike in the West where many people suffer from a single blocked artery, Indians are often found having a double or even triple artery blockage.
People often come close to dying before they realise that it is not too late to change. Looking after one’s heart is truly a matter of life and death.