INTRODUCTION
Coronary heart disease is very old in human history, whereas in genetic inheritance share with chimpanzees (our closest evolutionary relatives) are at least 3 genes that have been associated with ischemic heart disease.
The description of cardiovascular disease in general and heart in particular is also very old. However, creating a deep understanding of its causes and mechanisms have not been easy. For centuries, was a mystery form and function of heart disease and arteries and veins, even he could unravel only with the work of countless scholars.
We can find in the early eighteenth century references linking angina and myocardial infarction with atherosclerosis in the arteries coronary, and the latter with excess nutrients.
At that time we also find that the identification of heart attacks can be triggered by anger or other emotions.
In the nineteenth century new items are added to
puzzle that explains what and why there is a heart attack. It is found that coronary arterial thickening has a component fat. Additionally, cholesterol is found, it yque, circulating in the blood, may be deposited in the arteries. In the therapeutic is discovered some nitrite can ease an attack of angina pectoris.
The scientific and technical breakthrough by humanity in the twentieth century led to the understanding of
much more accurate operation and cardiovascular diseases and also allowed study and treat the heart of healthy individuals and patients with resources such as electrocardiogram, surgery, catheterization, pacemakers, echocardiography, thrombolysis, stints, etc.. However, despite these huge scientific advances, we can say that in all human history, the twentieth century had the highest incidence and mortality from cardiovascular disease.
