Coronary heart disease is one of the most common problems in the modern world. Most often, a similar ailment is faced by mature and elderly people. Unfortunately, the disease often ends with dangerous complications, including heart attack and coronary death. Why does coronary heart disease occur, what is it, and what symptoms are accompanied by? How dangerous is the disease? What methods of treatment and prevention does modern medicine offer?
CHD - what is it?
For normal functioning, the heart muscle needs oxygen and nutrients. Coronary arteries carry arterial blood to the heart. But any violation of coronary blood supply affects the myocardium - this is how coronary heart disease develops .
As a rule, the cause of the disease is atherosclerosis, which is accompanied by the formation of cholesterol plaques on the inner surface of the vessel, which leads to a narrowing of the lumen and, accordingly, causes coronary insufficiency.
The main causes of coronary heart disease
Violation of coronary circulation, as well as atherosclerosis, can develop under the influence of various factors. For example, in this case, genetic heredity is important.
On the other hand, the gender and age of a person is important. At a young age, men most often suffer from this ailment. But women become more prone to coronary heart disease after menopause, which is associated with a change in hormonal levels and metabolism.
Risk groups include people who are obese. Improper nutrition, especially the consumption of excessive amounts of animal fats, increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Bad habits, especially smoking, affect heart function. Inactivity and persistent stress also increase the likelihood of heart damage.
What are the symptoms of coronary artery disease?
Now that you know why IHD most often occurs, what it is, you should familiarize yourself with the signs of the disease. In fact, the clinical picture may be different. Most often, attacks occur against the background of physical or emotional overstrain - chest pain appears, which often gives to the arm and under the shoulder blade. Patients complain of shortness of breath, heaviness behind the sternum. There is a violation of the heart rhythm. Along with these symptoms, anxiety and fear of death appear .
In no case should you ignore them. In the absence of treatment, coronary heart disease can lead to the development of a heart attack, heart failure. In some cases, the disease causes a violation of myocardial conduction, and sometimes sudden coronary death.
Diagnosis of coronary heart disease includes coronary angiography - a study that makes it possible to determine the presence, size and location of cholesterol plaques. In addition, you need to find out what caused the circulatory disturbance.
Methods of treatment for coronary heart disease
Do not self-medicate, since this disease is fraught with dangerous consequences. Only a doctor can say why IHD occurred, what it is and what therapeutic measures need to be taken. As first aid, nitroglycerin preparations are used, which dilate blood vessels and improve blood circulation. With increased coagulation, patients are prescribed acetylsalicylic acid, which dilutes the blood.
The diagnosis of coronary heart disease is not a sentence. Following all the instructions of the doctor, the patient can lead a full life. Naturally, it is necessary to give up smoking and other bad habits, adjust the diet (do not eat fatty and fried foods, replacing them with healthy fiber), do not forget about regular physical activity. Only in the most severe cases requires surgical intervention.