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Coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, manifests as a characteristic pain in the chest. The symptoms of the disease can also be atypical and manifest themselves through the “mask” – shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, fainting, and even nausea and vomiting. Cardiologist, Dr. hab. Małgorzata Kloch.
- Ischemic disease is also known as coronary artery disease. It occurs when the lumen of the coronary arteries is narrowed or blocked
- The cardiologist explains that men are twice as likely to be ill
- Dr. Małgorzata Kloch lists the most common symptoms of ischemic heart disease
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
cardiology specialist from SCM clinic in Krakow, associated with the Specialist Hospital of S. Żeromski in Krakow, where he deals with patients at the II Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology. In everyday practice, he focuses primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease and heart failure.
What is ischemic heart disease
Coronary heart disease is the ischemia, and therefore hypoxia, of the heart muscle caused by changes in the coronary arteries (which is why it is also called coronary artery disease). The resulting changes result in a narrowing or complete closure of the lumen of the coronary arteries. It is for this reason that blood has a difficult ability to pass through these vessels. This condition most often causes atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, i.e. the deposition of atherosclerotic plaques in them.
It is worth noting that untreated ischemic heart disease can lead to a heart attack, i.e. an immediate life threatening condition. The most dangerous manifestation of this condition is sudden cardiac death.
Dr hab. Małgorzata Kloch, a cardiology specialist from the SCM clinic in Krakow, explains that the factors causing ischemic disease can be divided into modifiable and non-modifiable.
– The non-modifiable, i.e. those that we have no influence on, include age, gender and genetic factors. This problem affects men almost twice as often, especially after the age of 45, than women. In the case of the female gender, the risk group includes people over 55 years of age. Modifiable factors, i.e. factors that may be limited under the influence of a proper lifestyle or the use of drugs, include: arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, overweight and obesity, as well as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking (both active and passive), low physical activity and stress – emphasizes the doctor.
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Symptoms of coronary artery disease
The most common symptom of this disease is chest pain. Pain may be a pressure, burning, choking, or just chest discomfort. These ailments are located behind the breastbone and often radiate to the neck, lower jaw, left arm and even the back. It happens that patients also locate these ailments in the epigastric area. They appear during exercise, stress or being in the cold air.
– After a few minutes of rest, however, it should disappear. These are synocardial ailments that prove the need to extend cardiological diagnostics – emphasizes Dr. Małgorzata Kloch.
Coronary artery disease can also manifest as a heart attack. It is characterized by chest pain that does not go away while you are resting. It is usually crushing, squeezing and even prickly. It may be caused by occlusion of the coronary artery lumen.
Coronary heart disease diagnosis
Pain in the retrosternal area should always arouse anxiety and prompt you to visit your GP or cardiologist right away. It is advisable that the patient performs a panel of biochemical tests before the visit, which will be helpful in making a diagnosis. During the visit, the physician should assess risk factors that may affect the development of coronary artery disease in the patient. Information on the patient’s medical conditions, including hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, family history, and general lifestyle and addiction history will also be important.
The cardiologist mentions that in patients with suspected ischemic heart disease, specialist examinations should be performed.
– In such people, we perform resting electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (echo of the heart) and an exercise test, and if necessary, a 24-hour Holter ECG test. If, on this basis, the doctor deems it necessary, the patient may be referred for the diagnosis of invasive ischemic heart disease, i.e. coronary angiography – explains dr hab. Małgorzata Kloch.
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Recommendations and treatment of coronary artery disease
A patient with ischemic heart disease requires constant and regular visits to a cardiologist. They should take place in a cyclical manner, also when the patient’s health improves.
Treatment consists in taking appropriate medications and, if necessary, performing a coronary angioplasty procedure – restoring the coronary artery with a special balloon or stent, or implanting bypasses – bypassing the stenosis. Periodic examinations and drug discontinuation should not be underestimated without prior consultation with the attending physician.
It should be emphasized that both primary and secondary prophylaxis (for people after a heart attack) brings measurable benefits. Therefore, it is very important and necessary to change the lifestyle, i.e. to quit smoking immediately, follow a low-fat diet, as well as appropriate physical activity.
Coronary heart disease is dangerous and determines the lives of patients. Therefore, it is worth being aware of the existing threat, avoiding risk factors and reacting to the first symptoms, which should always be consulted with a specialist.
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