Coronary Artery Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & More

Complications of Coronary Heart Disease

Stable Angina

With a blocked coronary artery, the blood supply might not be able to meet the demand of the contracting heart muscle. This results in sudden discomfort, a burning sensation, or pain in the chest, which may last from 15 seconds to 15 minutes. Stable angina may subside with rest or with mild CHD medication.

Unstable Angina

Unlike stable angina, unstable angina is caused when a plaque breaks off & lodges in another location in the coronary artery. It can occur without increased cardiac demand such as during physical or mental stress, or even at rest. Pain experienced during this event is much more severe & prolonged than that with stable angina, typically lasting more than 20 minutes.

Heart Attack

Coronary heart disease can cause heart attacks, clinically known as myocardial infarctions, if severe enough. Common symptoms of a heart attack include confusion, weakness, sweating, severe chest pain, indigestion, breathlessness & even fainting.

Heart Failure

The heart might become more muscular in an attempt to pump blood more vigorously to overcome the compromised coronary artery supply. This paradoxically increases its oxygen demand until it can no longer be compensated for & the heart fails.

Sudden Cardiac Death

Ischemia of heart muscle in coronary heart disease leads to damage to affected regions. This in turn can cause abnormally fast, or out of rhythm beating of the heart so it can no longer pump blood. Unfortunately, a person may experience no prior symptoms of coronary heart disease.

Treatment for Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease treatment may be different depending on the stage of the disease. CHD medication is a common method in manageable cases. The drugs prescribed can be a combination of:

• Vasodilators such as nitroglycerin which cause the vessels to dilate, giving way to the blood in the affected vessel 
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins 
• Clot dissolving drugs

Surgical procedures may be preferred in more severe cases of coronary artery disease:

• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG): An alternative path is formed for blood to pass over the blocked area, forming a continuous flow of blood to the heart muscle

• Angioplasty: A tube is placed through the occluded vessel to remove the blockage. A stent (a thin mesh tube) may or may not be inserted in the vessel during this procedure to keep it open

A pacemaker or defibrillator may be placed as a treatment of coronary heart disease to correct arrhythmia caused by ischemic damage.

Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease

You can avoid suffering the many inconvenient symptoms of coronary heart disease by preventing its onset by eating a balanced diet & staying active. Smoking & alcohol consumption can also cause you to develop coronary artery disease & should be limited to maintain a healthy heart. The following foods can prove to be helpful in preventing coronary heart disease:

• Omega 3 fatty acids found in soybeans, walnuts & flaxseed
• Sources of Vitamin D such as shrimps, tuna, milk & eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Legumes

Another effective way to prevent coronary heart disease is staying mindful of pre-existing conditions, be it high cholesterol levels or diabetes, & managing them well. Follow your doctor’s directions responsibly.

You can never be too cautious when it comes to your health. For more information on coronary heart disease, get in touch with us.