What is Coronary Heart Disease? How can it affect your Heart and Its Treatment ?
Know completely about Coronary Artery Disease!!!Disease, Causes, Symptoms, and Traeatments
What is coronary artery disease? How can it affect you?
Coronary artery disease is a heart condition which develops due to the damage in the major blood vessels of the heart. The coronary arteries supply blood, oxygen and nutrients to the heart. These blood vessels get blocked due to cholesteroldeposits which in turn narrow these arteries, decreasing blood flow to the heart. The reduced blood flow can cause various symptoms. Coronary heart disease symptoms can include chest pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling or a full blown heart attack.
The coronary artery gets these deposits over many years and thus it is difficult to notice the problem until one has a significant blockage or a heart attack.
What are the signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease?
Coronary heart disease causes no symptoms initially and as the plaque continues to build up, the coronary arteries disease symptoms are noticed:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Heart attack
- Feeling tired
- Dizziness, heavy headedness.
- Nausea
- Weakness
The symptoms of a heart attack in women can be slightly different and include:
- Discomfort or pain in shoulders, neck, abdomen and/or back.
- Feeling of indigestion or heartburn
- Unexplained anxiety
- Cold sweat
When to see a doctor
The symptoms of coronary artery disease can worsen to that of a heart attack. Seek immediate help and get to the nearest emergency centre.
People with the risk factors for coronary artery disease must consult doctor on regular basis. This may help identify the blockage early and save you from an emergency heart attack condition.
Know your risk of coronary heart disease and get the best coronary heart disease treatment in Mumbai. Contact us and get evaluated by the best heart specialists in Mumbai.
What are the most common causes of coronary artery disease?
Coronary artery disease may begin in an individual sometimes as early as childhood. The coronary heart disease causes may include:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Inactive lifestyle
The buildup of plaque inside the arteries is called atherosclerosis. The plaque which consists of cholesterol, fatty substances, calcium and the clot-making substance fibrincontinues to collect on the artery walls causing the arteries to narrow and stiffen. This can block or damage the arteries, which limits or stops blood flow to the heart. Whenthe heart does not get enough blood, it can lead to chest discomfort or chest pain and also puts you at risk for a heart attack.
Risk factors of coronary artery disease
One is at an increased risk of coronary artery disease with the following conditions:
- High cholesterol level
- Family history of heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Smoker
- Overweight
- Inactive lifestyle
- Male over 45 years of age
- Post-menopausal woman
If you have these risk factors, talk with our Best Heart Specialist in Mumbai and get tested for the coronary artery disease.
How to diagnose coronary artery disease
The diagnosis of coronary artery disease begins with knowing the health history of the patient and family and physical checkup. One or more of the following diagnostic tests follows.
- ECG or Electrocardiogram test
An ECG records the electrical signals as they travel through the heart and an often show evidence of a previous heart attack or one that’s in progress.
- Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram test uses sound waves to produce images of the heart which can determine whether all parts of the heart wall are contributing normally to the heart’s pumping activity. If a part moves weakly, it may have been damaged during a heart attack or be receiving too little oxygen. This may show a sign of coronary artery disease or other conditions.
- Exercise Stress test:
A stress test is taken while exercising, typically while on a trade mill. It picks up changes in the ECG while running on a tread mill(STRESS) and identifies any impending heart attack.
- Pharmacologic stress test
If someone is not able to exercise, a medication is given to increase the heart rate and mimic exercise. Then an Echocardiogram is done to identify any changes in the function(pumping) of the heart.
- Cardiac catheterization and angiogram
For a cardiac catheterization, a catheter is inserted into an artery or vein and X-rays are used to guide the catheter to the correct position. A dye may be injected through the catheter to dye help show the blood flow through the blood vessels and show up better on the images and outlines any blockages.If there are any blockages that requires treatment, a balloon can be pushed through the catheter and inflated to improve the blood flow in your coronary arteries. A stent is generally used to keep the dilated artery open for smooth blood flow.
- Cardiac CT scan
A CT scan of the heart can help see calcium deposits in the arteries that can narrow the arteries.
Complications of coronary artery disease
The Coronary artery disease can lead to the following other heart conditions:
- Chest pain
- Heart attack or Heart failure
- Heart rhythm issues
- Cardiogenic shock
- Sudden cardiac arrest
You can reduce your chance of developing these heart conditions. To prevent complications and know more about prevention, contact us to meet the Best Cardiac Surgeon in Mumbai now.
Procedures and surgery to treat coronary artery disease
Though medication may sometimes help, aproceduremay be needed in most of the cases. Here are some options:
- Angioplasty and stent placement (percutaneous coronary revascularization)
The procedure is done by inserting a a long, thin tube called catheter into the body and is guided to the narrowed artery. A wire with a deflated balloon is passed through the catheter to the narrowed area or blockage area of the blood vessel. The balloon is then inflated, compressing the deposits against your artery walls.
Typically, a stent is left in the artery to help keep the artery open
- Coronary artery bypass surgery
The Coronary artery bypass surgery involves taking a graft to bypass blocked coronary arteries using a vessel from another part of the body to allow blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery.
The Coronary artery bypass surgery is a major surgery and requires open-heart procedure and is generally done on patients with multiple narrowed coronary arteries.
To know more about heart procedures or other options for treatment contact the Best Cardiac Surgeon in Mumbai and get the help you need.
What are the different types of coronary artery disease?
There are 3 types of coronary artery disease:
- Obstructive coronary artery disease where the arteries are narrowed or blocked
- Non-obstructive coronary artery disease where the arteries inappropriately constrict or malfunction after branching into tiny vessels, or are squeezed by overlying heart muscle
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) where the layers of the artery suddenly split
What is the difference between heart disease and coronary artery disease?
Herat disease is a common term that can include many heart problems and illness such as Heart Arrhythmias, Heart Failure.Coronary artery disease is one such heart disease which is caused due to narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries.
How can coronary heart disease be prevented?
The coronary artery disease can be prevented with lifestyle changes such as
- Quit smoking
- Controlling weight
- Maintaining healthy cholesterol level
- Maintaining blood pressure
- Getting active
Though risk factors such as older age, male gender, a family history of heart disease and genetic factors cannot be changes, it is good to reduce the risk of disease by taking control over the risk factors that can be changed.
Coronary Artery Disease Video
Feel Free to Contact Dr. Manish Garg , CVTS Heart Surgeon in Mumbai Practicing at Hruday Heart Care , Mumbai. Contact number – +91-9769582562