Prevention Of Coronary Artery Disease

The lifestyle itself, which can help to treat coronary artery disease may also prevent the emergence, in the first place. He leads a healthy lifestyle can help keep blood vessels strong, flexible and smooth, and allows a maximum flow. Heart-healthy habits are:

Do not smoke

The control conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes

Staying physically active

Eat healthy foods

To maintain a healthy weight

Reduction and stress management

Treatment Of Coronary Artery Disease

Treatment of coronary artery disease usually involves lifestyle changes and appropriate medications and some medical procedures.

Changes in lifestyle

Make a commitment to change a healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward promoting healthy arteries:

Stop smoking.

Eat healthy foods.

Exercise regularly.

Lose excess weight.

Reduce stress.

Drugs

Several medications can be used to treat coronary artery disease, including:

Cholesterol-modifying drug. By reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol levels, these drugs reduce the base material of the coronary arteries of deposits. Increase your high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol), may also help. Your doctor may choose a variety of medications, including statins, niacin, fibrates and bile acid sequestrants.

Aspirin. Your doctor may recommend taking a daily aspirin or other anticoagulants. This can reduce the tendency for clotting of your blood, which can help prevent the blockage of coronary arteries. If you have had a heart attack, aspirin can help prevent future attacks. There are some cases where aspirin is not appropriate, as if you have a bleeding disorder you are already taking another blood thinner, so ask your doctor before taking aspirin.

Beta-blockers. These drugs slow the heart rate and reduces blood pressure, which reduces the oxygen of the heart. If you had a heart attack, beta-blockers reduce future attacks.

Nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin tablets, sprays and patches can control pain in the chest through the opening of the coronary arteries and reduce the demand for blood for the heart.

Converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and receptor antagonists blockers (ARBs). These similar agents reduce blood pressure and may help prevent progression of coronary artery disease. If you have had a heart attack, the ACE inhibitors reduce the risk of future attacks.

Calcium channel blockers. These drugs relax the muscles surrounding the coronary arteries and cause blood vessels to open, which increases blood flow to the heart. They also control high blood pressure.

Procedures to restore and improve blood circulation

Sometimes more aggressive treatment is needed. Here are some options:

Angioplasty and stenting (percutaneous coronary revascularization). In this procedure. The doctor inserts a long thin tube (catheter) into the narrowed artery, a wire with a deflated balloon is passed through the catheter to the narrowed area. The balloon is then inflated, compressing the deposits against the walls of your arteries. A stent is often left in the artery to keep the artery open. Some stents slowly release medication to help keep the artery open.

Coronary artery bypass surgery. A surgeon creates a graft to bypass blocked coronary arteries using a vessel from another part of your body. This allows blood to flow around the blocked or narrowed coronary artery. Because this requires open heart surgery, it is usually reserved for cases of multiple narrowed coronary arteries.

Symptoms Of Coronary Artery Disease

If your coronary arteries are narrowed, they can not supply enough oxygenated blood to the heart - especially when uphill battle, as during physical activity. Initially, the restriction of blood flow may not cause symptoms of coronary artery disease. As the plates continue to accumulate in the coronary arteries, however, you may develop symptoms of coronary artery disease, including:

Chest pain (angina). You may feel pressure or tightness in chest, like someone was standing on his chest. The pain, called angina, is usually triggered by physical or emotional stress. It usually disappears within minutes after stopping the stressful activity. In some people, especially women, this pain may be fleeting or sharp and realized in the abdomen, back or arm.

Shortness of breath. If your heart can not pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body, may develop shortness of breath or extreme fatigue during exercise.

Heart attack. If a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, you can have a heart attack. The classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack include crushing chest tightness and pain in the shoulder or arm, sometimes with shortness of breath and sweating. Women are slightly more likely than men to experience less typical symptoms and signs of a heart attack, including nausea and back pain or jaw. Sometimes a heart attack occurs without any apparent signs or symptoms.

When to see a doctor

If you think you are a heart attack, call 911 or your local emergency number. If you do not have access to emergency medical services, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital. Drive yourself only as a last resort.

If you have risk factors for coronary heart disease - like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or obesity - to discuss with your doctor. It is recommended to test for you, especially if you have signs or symptoms of clogged arteries. Although there is no evidence of coronary heart disease, your doctor may recommend aggressive treatment of risk factors. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop the progression of coronary artery disease and help prevent a heart attack.

Causes Of Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary heart disease is expected to begin by injury or damage to the inner layer of a coronary artery, sometimes from childhood. Damage can be caused by various factors, including:

Smoke

Hypertension

High cholesterol

Diabetes

Radiotherapy of the chest, which is used for certain types of cancer

When the inner wall of the artery is damaged, fatty deposits (plaques) of cholesterol in cells and others in the slag tends to accumulate at the site of injury, or atherosclerosis. In case of breakage or tears in the plaques surface, the blood cells, platelets clump at the site will attempt to repair the artery. This group can block arteries, leading to a heart attack.

Coronary Artery Disease Overview

Coronary heart disease develops when the coronary arteries - blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients - damaged or diseased. Containing cholesterol deposits (plaques) in arteries are usually to blame for coronary artery disease.

When plaque builds up, narrowing the coronary arteries, causing your heart to receive less blood. Finally, reduced blood flow can cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath or other symptoms of coronary artery disease. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack.

Because coronary disease often develops over several decades can go virtually unnoticed until it produces a heart attack. But there is much you can do to prevent and treat coronary artery disease. To begin, commit to a healthy life.