Last updated on March 13th, 2024 at 03:20 pm
What is coronary heart disease?
Coronary heart disease (CHD) occurs when the heart’s arteries cannot supply the organ with enough oxygen-rich blood. It is also known as coronary artery disease (CAD) or ischaemic heart disease (IHD). It is one of the most common heart conditions. With a heart-healthy lifestyle, CAD can be prevented quite easily.
Types of coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease is of three types:
Obstructive coronary artery disease:
Plaque buildup causes the coronary arteries to narrow gradually. It is the most typical and well-known form of CAD. Narrowing arteries may eventually block your heart’s blood supply.
Nonobstructive coronary artery disease:
It refers to various forms of coronary artery dysfunction other than atherosclerosis, such as damage to one or more coronary artery endothelial layers (i.e., inner lining of the vessels) or sudden coronary artery contractions.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD):
It is a rare but dangerous condition in which a blood clot, or hematoma, spontaneously forms within one of the artery walls. It obstructs blood flow to the heart, leading to a heart attack or sudden death. SCAD can strike men or women at any age but is common in women in their 40s and 50s.
Causes of coronary artery disease
It often takes years for CAD to occur. The symptoms might go unnoticed before a significant blockage causes problems or a heart attack.
In coronary artery disease, fats, cholesterol, and other substances build up on the inner walls of the coronary arteries, which causes atherosclerosis. The arteries may narrow due to fat buildup (plaque), thus hindering coronary circulation or blood flow to the heart muscles. This leads to a lack of blood supply to the heart muscle and eventually results in death.
Symptoms of coronary artery disease
Even though two people may have the same type of coronary heart disease, their symptoms may vary. However, in general, coronary artery disease symptoms or ischemic heart disease symptoms may include:
- Chest pain (angina) or a feeling of tightness on the middle or left side of the heart
- Breathlessness
- Profuse sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Burning pain that travels upwards towards the jaws, especially in women.
Risk factors of coronary artery disease
Common risk factors of coronary artery disease include:
- Age above 45
- Men are at a higher risk of developing CAD after their late 40s.
- Women are at high risk after their 50s, most likely during menopause.
- A family history of coronary heart disease
- Uncontrolled blood pressure or hypertension
- Too many low-density lipoproteins or bad cholesterol in the blood
- Diabetes
- Smoking and alcohol intake
- Lack of physical activity
- Psychological stress
- Consuming foods high in salt, sugar, trans fat, and saturated fats
Precautions for coronary artery disease
You can prevent up to 90% of cardiovascular diseases by avoiding known risk factors. Maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle can decrease the chances of developing coronary disease in people. Regular exercising, refraining from alcohol and tobacco, and eating healthy are key factors in improving heart health.
Myths related to coronary artery disease
- You can eat anything if you take a cholesterol-lowering medication.
- Cholesterol in the blood comes from the liver and fatty foods we eat. Cholestrol-lowering medications (statins) reduce liver-manufactured cholesterol only. If you take a statin and continue to consume foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol, the medication will not work as well as it should.
- Avoid fats if you have heart disease.
- This one is the biggest myth surrounding heart disease. In fact, one should only avoid saturated fats (animal fats, trans fats) and consume polyunsaturated fats to keep the heart healthy.
Diagnosis of coronary artery disease
Various tests are employed to diagnose coronary heart disease. They include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Echocardiogram
- Coronary angiography or coronary catheterisation, wherein a dye is inserted into blood vessels via a catheter to look for blockages
- Exercise stress test
- Cardiac CT scans
- Lipid profile
Treatment of coronary artery disease
Lifestyle changes like exercising and dietary patterns in the early stages can significantly reduce the risk of CAD. CAD is treated both via medications and surgery. Medications like statins (reduce cholesterol) and anti-platelet therapy, including clopidogrel and aspirin, nitrates (dilate arteries), beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and others, help treat CAD.
However, in advanced stages, surgical intervention is necessary, which involves:
• Coronary angioplasty and stent placement: Also known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A small, flexible tube(catheter) is inserted into the heart’s narrow artery. A tiny balloon is inflated to help widen the narrowed artery and enhance blood flow. During coronary angioplasty, a tiny wire-mesh tube (stent) may be inserted into the artery. The artery is kept open by the stent. It reduces the possibility of the artery narrowing again.
• Coronary artery bypass surgery or graft (CABG) or cardiac bypass surgery: In coronary bypass surgery, a new blood vessel is grafted to make a new pathway for blood flow in the heart. It is done to relieve angina and prevent the progression of ischemic heart disease.
Conclusion
Coronary artery disease is a lifestyle disorder that can be prevented and controlled by altering one’s lifestyle and regularly taking the right medications. With the right choices, you can avoid any major heart health crisis.
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