Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality in India and are responsible for one in four deaths in the country. Unfortunately, it affects people in the most productive years of their lives, resulting in catastrophic financial and social burdens on family members. In fact, they’re categorised as a silent epidemic in the country, with leading cardiovascular surgeons advocating heart health awareness, emphasising the need to tackle risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Read on to learn about coronary heart disease, including causes, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options. And if you are looking for hospitals specialising in coronary heart disease treatment in Nagercoil, visit us.
What Is Coronary Heart Disease?
While heart disease is an umbrella term for various conditions that affect the heart, coronary heart disease specifically refers to a condition where the arteries supplying blood to the heart are narrowed or blocked by a build-up of fatty deposits. This is also called coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease.
This build-up of plaque, i.e., fat, cholesterol, and other substances, happens over time, thereby limiting the amount of blood that reaches your heart muscle. Over time, the plaque deposits trigger a blood clot, thereby stopping blood flow completely. When this happens, the patient experiences a heart attack. Unfortunately, you may have coronary artery disease for a long time and remain undiagnosed until you have a heart attack. And that is why coronary heart disease is considered a silent killer.
There are two types of coronary heart disease: stable ischemic heart disease and acute coronary syndrome. The former occurs over years as the arteries narrow gradually you may feel symptoms, but it could take years until the problem is diagnosed. Acute coronary syndrome is a medical emergency in which the plaque in the artery ruptures, suddenly blocking blood flow to the heart, resulting in a heart attack.
Coronary Heart Disease Symptoms
Coronary heart disease symptoms can vary from person to person. In fact, some people may not have any symptoms at all until blood flow to the heart is completely blocked, causing a heart attack, or the heart suddenly stops pumping blood, causing a cardiac arrest. Some of the common symptoms include chest pain and breathlessness. Some patients may experience pain in the neck, shoulders, and jaw, while some may feel faint or nauseous just before an attack.
Chest pain is common in patients with partially blocked arteries. It may come and go, and feel mildly uncomfortable. The pain is usually triggered by emotional and physical stress and goes away in 10 minutes.
Coronary Heart Disease Causes
As earlier said, coronary heart disease is caused by the buildup of fatty deposits on the arterial wall. This buildup narrows the walls of the arteries, restricting blood flow. However, what causes the buildup is a complex topic. Plaque comprises cholesterol, calcium, fibrin (a protein that causes blood to clot in the body), and waste products.
Sometimes, problems with the way blood vessels work can occur. For instance, blood vessels may not respond to signals that the heart needs oxygen-rich blood. Under normal circumstances, the arteries may widen, allowing blood to flow to the heart, but for people with coronary artery diseases, the arteries may not widen and even become narrow.
Arterial walls can be damaged by chronic diabetes, high blood pressure, or chronic inflammation. This causes the walls to tighten suddenly, thereby blocking blood flow to the heart.
Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors
Several risk factors cause coronary heart disease. These include
1. Lifestyle Habits
Smoking and drinking, unhealthy eating patterns like consuming saturated fats, refined carbs, etc., not getting enough sleep, inactive lifestyle, etc.
2. Environmental Factors
Exposure to radiation and other toxic pollutants, work stress, working for long hours, etc.
3. Family History
If someone in the family, especially if your father or brother, was diagnosed with COD before age 55, you are at a higher risk of coronary heart disease.
4. Age
Men have a higher risk of coronary artery disease after the age of 45, and women have a higher risk of heart disease around 55.
Coronary Heart Disease Diagnosis
You must visit the doctor if you experience chest pain or breathlessness and are at a higher risk of coronary artery disease. At Calwin Multispecialty Hospital in Nagercoil, we offer preventive heart health checkups that include monitoring your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes to assess your risks for coronary heart disease.
Depending on your symptoms and risk factors, tests may include angiography, ECG, Echocardiogram, stress test, etc.
Coronary Heart Disease Treatment in Nagercoil
Visit Calwin Hospitals if you are looking for a heart hospital in Nagercoil. With a dedicated team of cardiologists, you can be assured of prompt care and treatment. Options may include surgeries like angioplasty, stent placement, bypass surgery, minimally invasive heart surgery, medication, and other procedures.
Preventing Coronary Heart Diseases
Preventing coronary heart disease may include taking care of risk factors like limiting alcohol and cigarettes, staying at optimal wealth, staying physically active, getting enough sleep, and managing risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Visit us if you are looking for a heart specialist in Nagercoil.