Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart . This is generally caused by a condition called atherosclerosis , which occurs when fats accumulate on the walls of the arteries and reduce the space through which blood has to circulate, causing the flow to slow down and even stop. . This disorder is also known as coronary artery disease.
Summary
[ disguise ]
- 1 Risk factors
- 2 Factors that increase the risk of heart disease
- 3 Symptoms
- 4 Certainty diagnosis
- 5 Exams applied to know with certainty
- 6 Treatment
- 7 Forecast
- 8 Prevention
- 9 Curiosity
- 10 References
- 11 Sources
Risk factor’s
- Age: The risk of heart disease increases with age.
- Sex: Men have a higher risk of developing heart disease than women who are still having their menstrual period. After menopause, the risk for women is close to the risk for men.
- Genes: If your parents or other close relatives had heart disease, you are at greater risk.
- Race: African Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, Hawaiians, and some Asian Americans also have a higher risk of heart problems.
Factors that increase the risk of heart disease
- Diabetes is a strong risk factor for heart disease.
- High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and heart failure.
- Smokers have a much higher risk of heart disease.
- Chronic kidney disease may increase the risk.
- People with narrowed arteries elsewhere in the body (examples are stroke and poor circulation to the legs) are more likely to have heart disease.
- Substance abuse (such as cocaine).
- Being overweight.
- Not getting enough exercise or feeling depressed or having excess stress are other risk factors.
Symptoms
The classic symptom is angina pectoris , which patients report as discomfort, weight or tightness in the central part of the chest , which can radiate to other areas: the throat and jaw, the left arm, the back, the stomach. , which is triggered by physical effort and is relieved by rest. The pain is intense and constant when an acute heart attack occurs ; In angina it is usually mild, intermittent and does not last long. The classic one is oppressive pain in the central region of the chest, which can also be accompanied by sweating, nausea, vomiting and fatigue . A doctor should be contacted immediately if the pain is severe and is not relieved by rest, or if mild pain manifestations have occurred in recent days.
Certainty diagnosis
The electrocardiogram is a fundamental tool, although there are others such as echocardiogram , coronary angiography , and stress tests.
Exams applied to know with certainty
- Coronary angiography/arteriography: a non-invasive procedure designed to evaluate the arteries of the heart using x-rays.
- Computed tomography angiography, a non-aggressive way of performing coronary angiography.
- Electrocardiography (ECG).
- Electron beam computed tomography (ECT) to look for calcium in the lining of the arteries; The more calcium there is, the higher the probability of suffering from coronary heart disease.
- Exercise stress test.
- CT scan of the heart
- Magnetic resonance angiography
Treatment
For acute infarction, it is the recanalization or unobstruction of the coronary clot that is causing the infarction. When mild, lifestyle changes and antiplatelet medications such as aspirin .
Forecast
It depends, first of all, on the age of the patient and the promptness with which they go to specialized services. Those who seek care in the first three hours after the heart attack begins will have a greater chance of recovery.
Prevention
It is essential to establish eating habits that include fiber, vegetables and fruits , with low fat content. Also maintain periodic control of blood pressure and blood cholesterol. And do not smoke or drink excessive alcoholic beverages. Finally, it should be noted that a recent study shows that as exercise capacity increases, that is, physical fitness, the risk of death gradually decreases.
Curiosity
It is the leading cause of death in Cuba, according to cardiologist Juan José Quirós Luis , coordinator of the Coronary Unit of the National Network of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery. who indicates that alterations in the coronary arteries are also triggered by anatomical causes, rupture, embolism (sudden obstruction), inflammatory and immunological diseases and by functional causes such as spasm or microcirculation disorders, fundamentally.
