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What is Coronary Heart Disease?
Coronary heart disease is a condition that occurs when the heart’s arteries cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle due to narrowing caused by fat deposits (plaque). This condition is also known as coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease.
The coronary arteries are responsible for delivering blood to the heart muscle. If these arteries are damaged or diseased and unable to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart, it can lead to heart attacks and even death.
Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease
The main symptoms of coronary heart disease include:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the neck, shoulders, jaw, or arms
- Feeling faint
- Nausea
Not everyone with coronary heart disease experiences the same symptoms. In fact, some people may not experience any symptoms at all before being diagnosed by a doctor.
Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease is caused by the buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the walls of the heart’s arteries. This condition is called atherosclerosis, and the deposits are known as plaque.
Plaque can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow. Plaque can also rupture, leading to blood clots.
Some common causes of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease include:
- Diabetes or insulin resistance
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Lack of physical activity
- Smoking or tobacco use
Diagnosis of Coronary Heart Disease
If a doctor suspects you are at risk for coronary heart disease, they may perform a risk assessment. The doctor will also ask about your personal and family medical history and lifestyle, and may order blood tests.
Further tests may be required to confirm a diagnosis of coronary heart disease, such as:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Echocardiogram
- Chest X-ray
- Coronary angiogram
Treatment for Coronary Heart Disease
1. Managing Risk Factors
There are several risk factors for coronary heart disease that you can control to prevent its onset, such as quitting smoking, managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels, improving your diet, maintaining an ideal weight, and managing blood pressure.
2. Medications
Doctors may prescribe medications for coronary heart disease, including:
- Antiplatelets: Medications that reduce blood clotting, such as aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, and prasugrel.
- Antihyperlipidemics: Medications to reduce blood lipids (fats), especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
- Antihypertensives: Medications to lower blood pressure.
3. Coronary Angioplasty
Coronary angioplasty uses a balloon to widen the blood vessels, improving blood flow. Though angioplasty may be done on blood vessels in other parts of the body, it can help increase blood flow to the heart.
4. Heart Bypass Surgery
Heart bypass surgery is often performed on people who experience chest pain and have coronary heart disease. During the surgery, a bypass is created by grafting a vein above and below the blocked coronary artery area, allowing blood to flow around the blockage.
The vein is usually taken from the leg, but arteries from the chest and arms can also be used for the bypass graft. Sometimes, multiple bypasses are needed to restore full blood flow to all parts of the heart.
5. Rotablator
A rotablator is a device used to shave off hardened plaque in the coronary blood vessels, especially in cases where plaque is difficult to treat with balloons or stents.
Using a rotablator, doctors can remove blockages and improve or restore blood flow to the heart.
Want to consult further about coronary heart disease or overall heart health? Visit Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri. Our hospital is equipped with modern medical technology to handle various heart conditions. You can also consult with experienced heart specialists.
Schedule your appointment through our WhatsApp Chat feature, Book Appointment, or the Care Dokter app—available on Google Play and the App Store—to ease your visit, check your queue number, and access complete information.
