Coronary Heart Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Coronary heart disease is damage to the main blood vessels that supply blood with oxygen and nutrients to the heart. Here are the causes and symptoms. A coronary heart occurs when the main blood vessels, which supply oxygen, blood, and nutrients to the heart, are damaged.
This condition is usually caused by cholesterol plaques and inflammatory processes.
Plaque formation causes narrowing of the coronary arteries and reduces the flow of oxygen to the heart. This is what can trigger chest pain.
Because plaque formation lasts for decades, patients may not be aware of it until the clinical signs of chest pain actually appear.
Coronary heart disease
| Medical specialist | Cardiologist (cardiologist). |
| Symptom | Discomfort in the chest, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea. |
| risk factor | Age, gender, family history. |
| How to diagnose | Clinical interview, physical examination, laboratory examination, EKG, coronary angiography. |
| Treatment | Medicines, healthy lifestyle, ring fitting, heart bypass, heart transplant. |
| Drug | Low-dose aspirin, clopidogrel, statins. |
| Complications | Heart failure, change in heart rhythm, sudden death. |
| When to see a doctor? | Left/central chest pain, pain accompanied by shortness of breath, pain at rest, increased heart rate beyond normal limits, loss of consciousness. |
Symptom
Obstruction of blood supply to the heart organs may not be felt at first.
If more and more fat accumulates in the arteries, some of the characteristics and symptoms of coronary heart disease will appear, such as:
- discomfort in the chest
- chest pain
- hard to breathe
- a cold sweat
- nauseous
- lightheadedness/ dizzy
- discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- lost consciousness
Reason
Coronary heart disease is caused by damage to the inner lining of the arteries.
First, plaque will grow in the lining of the coronary arteries, eventually causing obstruction to blood flow to the heart muscles.
Risk Factors
Some of the risk factors for coronary heart disease are:
Age
The older you get, the higher your risk of developing artery damage.
Gender
Men are more likely to experience coronary heart disease.
History in the Family
Having a family member with coronary heart disease increases your risk of experiencing the same thing.
In addition, certain health conditions, such as high LDL cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and smoking habits also increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
Diagnosis
There are several ways and steps for doctors to diagnose coronary heart disease. Here’s an explanation.
Clinical Anamnesis
The doctor will conduct a medical interview to find out about the existing family history and symptoms related to coronary heart disease.
Physical examination
Check blood pressure to find out risk factors such as high blood pressure.
Laboratory examination
Doctors may ask patients to check cholesterol profiles, such as total cholesterol, LDL and HDL, in the laboratory.
Electrocardiogram Examination
One way to establish the diagnosis of coronary heart disease is to use an electrocardiogram (EKG).
This tool checks the electrical activity of the heart as well as heart rhythm.
In coronary heart disease, the heart’s electricity is disrupted so it can be detected by an EKG.
Coronary Angiography
This examination can provide a more detailed picture of the coronary arteries of the heart through an X-ray of the heart.
This method provides contrast to the blood vessels so that if there is a narrowing it can be identified.
Treatment
Management and treatment of coronary heart disease generally also involve lifestyle changes, which are combined with medical procedures and drugs.
Some recommended healthy lifestyles include:
- exercising regularly
- lose weight
- quit smoking
- eat foods high in fiber and low in fat
- avoid stress
Related Drugs
Meanwhile, some drugs can also be prescribed by doctors for heart disease patients, such as:
- low-dose aspirin
- clopidogrel
- statins, such as atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin
- beta-blockers, such as atenolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol
- nitrates, such as isosorbide mononitrate
- ACE inhibitors, such as ramipril and lisinopril
If drugs are no longer effective in treating symptoms, the patient may be advised for surgery.
Some of the surgical methods that can be performed are heart ring installation, heart artery bypass, and heart transplantation.
Prevention
Prevention is better than cure, right? Here are some ways to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
A healthy and balanced diet
Adopt a diet that contains high fiber and low fat, limit salt consumption, and increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Be more physically active
Combine a healthy diet with regular exercise to improve heart and blood circulation, reduce weight and prevent high blood pressure.
Quit smoking
Smoking is one of the main risk factors for atherosclerosis or narrowing of the arteries due to cholesterol plaque.
Limiting the amount of alcohol consumption
Don’t consume too much alcohol. If the limit is exceeded, you might experience other health problems.
Control blood pressure
Target blood pressure not to exceed 140/90 mmHg and ensure regular control.
Control blood sugar
High blood sugar is a risk factor for coronary artery disease.
Complications
There are several coronary heart complications that cannot be underestimated, namely:
- heart failure
- changes in heart rhythm
- sudden death
When to See a Doctor?
Immediately see a doctor if you feel these symptoms:
- chest pain on the left or center and may be accompanied by radiating to the neck or back
- pain accompanied by shortness of breath
- pain occurs at rest
- an increase in heart rate beyond normal limits
- lose consciousness