Coronary Artery Disease: Angina and Heart Attack

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease and occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) become hardened and narrowed.

When blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart are reduced or cut off, you can develop either angina or heart attack. Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart is not getting enough blood. A heart attack happens when a blood clot suddenly cuts off most or all blood supply to part of the heart. Cells in the heart muscle that do not receive enough oxygen-carrying blood begin to die. This can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle. It is also known as Myocardial infarction or MI, Acute myocardial infarction or AMI, Acute coronary syndrome, Coronary thrombosis or Coronary occlusion. Myocardium is a part of the heart muscle and as it may die (infarct) it is called myocardial infarction (MI).

As per the NHLBI website, each year, more than a million persons in the U.S. have a heart attack and about half (515,000) of them die. About one-half of those who die do so within 1 hour of the start of symptoms and before reaching the hospital. When a heart attack is suspected it is better to obtain emergency help than to wait.

Risk Factors for Heart Attack

Are you at risk for Heart Attack?

There are risk factors for coronary artery disease that you cannot change and risk factors that you can change. According to NHBLI, the risk factors you cannot change include:

Your age:
     Men: over age 45
     Women: over age 55

Having a family history of early heart disease
     Heart disease diagnosed in father or brother before age 55
     Heart disease diagnosed in mother or sister before age 65

Having a personal history of coronary artery disease
     Angina
     A previous heart attack
     A surgical procedure (angioplasty, heart bypass) to increase blood flow to your heart.

Risk factors that you can change include:

    Smoking
    High blood pressure
     High blood cholesterol
    Obesity
    Being physically inactive
     Diabetes (high blood sugar)

What is the treatment for heart attack?

Medical procedures to diagnose and treat heart disease include coronary angiography, coronary artery bypass grafts, coronary angioplasty, coronary stenting, heart transplants, operations for congenital defects, surgery for heart valve defects, electrophysiological treatments and implanting of cardiac defibrillator

The main treatments include one or more of the following:

Thrombolitic drugs: These drugs are used to dissolve blood clots that have formed in certain blood vessels

Angioplasy: This is the procedure to open up a clogged artery. Usually a stent is used.

Coronary artery bypass surgery: This is done by placing arteries or veins from other areas of your body to bypass the blocked artery.

Medical treatments to control blood pressure and cholesterol may also be essential components of continued therapy.

Disclaimer: The above material is only for information purpose and some information may change with advancement of knowledge. Do not use this information to treat any medical condition. If you suspect a medical condition, consult a registered medical practitioner.